At around 6:00PM the Dover Straits Earthquake occurred in England and Northern France (Flanders). According to the Channel Tunnel Study it had a magnitude of 5.3-5.9 and occurred in the lower crust of the earth and therefore was felt over a large area. This is one of the largest earthquakes recorded in history.
As it happened during Easter Week, it was seen as an omen. The belfrey of the Notre Dame of Lorette collapsed as well as several buildings in Lille. Peasants reported that they felt a rumble in the fields and saw the ground roll in waves.