Early Thursday morning, parts of New South Wales and Canberra were shaken by a light earthquake. The Seismology Research Centre reported that the 3.8 magnitude quake struck at 6:41 AM, with its epicenter located 36 kilometers from Goulburn. Residents across the region experienced a range of sensations, from a faint hum to significant shaking of their homes.
Residents’ Experiences
In Towrang, a local resident described to 2GB how his entire house shook for 7 to 10 seconds, initially mistaking the tremor for a passing train. Similarly, a resident of Laggan recounted the earthquake feeling like “a truck hitting the house,” accompanied by a loud bang. Another Goulburn resident mentioned that her bed shook and initially thought it was due to a train before realizing it was an earthquake.
Canberra also felt the tremors, with one man reporting a small hum in the ground, while another was startled by a rumble while in the shower, which quickly escalated to the house shaking.
Geological Insights
Hadi Ghasemi, a senior seismologist, described the event as a “shallow small earthquake” that was widely felt within the region. He explained that earthquakes in Australia are typically caused by the stress within the interior of the continent due to the Australian tectonic plate’s movement, which shifts approximately seven centimeters northeast annually.
Despite the widespread feeling of this quake, Mr. Ghasemi reassured that aftershocks, while possible, generally tend to be smaller than the main event. He highlighted that the region has experienced about 250 earthquakes over the last two decades, with only around twenty of those being of magnitude three or higher, many of which went unnoticed by the public.
Community Response
So far, there have been no reports of injuries or significant damage. Geoscience Australia has received 410 reports from the public and continues to monitor for any aftershocks. This event follows a 3.6 magnitude earthquake that struck western Sydney and the Blue Mountains in March, indicating a notable year for seismic activity in the region.
While such events can be unsettling, the overall impact remains minor, and the community’s quick response and reporting help scientists gather valuable data to better understand and prepare for future occurrences.
