August 1, 2015
A 5.7 magnitude earthquake, followed by a significant aftershock measuring 5.1, rattled south-east Queensland on Saturday afternoon.
The two quakes, plus two smaller tremors, all occurred in the same region as Thursday’s 5.3 earthquake, ie adjacent to the continental shelf just east of Fraser Island.
The 5.7 quake, which struck at 1:38pm, is of greater magnitude than the devastating Newcastle earthquake which occurred on December 28, 1989, and killed 13 people.
It is the biggest earthquake to have occurred in Queensland since 1918.
Saturday’s quakes were again felt throughout the South Burnett and as far south as the Gold Coast but there have been no reports of damage.
There was also no threat of a tsunami.
- Related article: Quakes Shake South-East Qld
I noticed a slight knocking (the window rattling I think) a few kms west of Nanango and called out to the family that it might have been a little tremor. My watch said 1.39. Social media soon confirmed that it was an earthquake. Had a few more over the next hour or so, but the rest of the family didn’t really notice them. They would have been easy to miss. We’re lucky to be able to experience a little thrill but not have to worry about anything more major. Touch wood.