Magnitude 4.8 Earthquake Jolts Melbourne and Much of Victoria

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Thousands of Victorians were jolted awake early Saturday morning when a magnitude 4.8 earthquake struck South Gippsland, sending shaking across Melbourne and large parts of southeastern Victoria.

The earthquake occurred at about 2:01am local time on October 3, with its epicentre near Arawata, close to Leongatha in South Gippsland, about 130 kilometres southeast of Melbourne.

According to Geoscience Australia, the earthquake occurred at a depth of about 10 kilometres. Its relatively shallow depth helped allow the shaking to travel across a wide area.

More than 2,600 people had submitted felt reports to Geoscience Australia within hours of the earthquake, with reports continuing to increase throughout the day.

There were no immediate reports of major injuries or significant structural damage.

Why Was the Earthquake Felt So Far Away?

Australia is often considered relatively geologically stable because it sits well inside the Indo Australian tectonic plate, rather than on an active plate boundary like those found around Japan, Indonesia and New Zealand.

But that does not mean Australia is free from earthquakes.

The movement of tectonic plates around Australia creates stresses within the continent. Over long periods, those stresses can accumulate along ancient faults beneath the Earth’s surface.

When the accumulated stress becomes greater than the strength of the surrounding rock, a fault can suddenly rupture, releasing energy as seismic waves.

These are known as intraplate earthquakes because they occur within a tectonic plate rather than at the boundary between two plates.

Victoria has several ancient fault systems and remains one of Australia’s more seismically active regions.

Australia’s old and relatively rigid crust can also allow seismic waves to travel considerable distances, meaning an earthquake of moderate magnitude can be felt hundreds of kilometres from its epicentre.

That helps explain why the South Gippsland earthquake was felt across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria.

Residents Reported Rolling Shaking

Across Melbourne, residents reported being woken by rattling windows, shaking furniture and buildings moving during the overnight tremor.

Many described the sensation as a rolling movement lasting several seconds rather than a sharp jolt.

Reports came from Melbourne’s central, eastern and western suburbs as well as communities across regional Victoria, including Geelong, Gippsland, Ballarat and Bendigo.

The Victorian State Emergency Service urged residents to report structural damage and seek assistance if required.

Memories of Victoria’s 2021 Earthquake

Saturday’s earthquake also brought back memories of Victoria’s much stronger earthquake in September 2021.

On September 22, 2021, a magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck near Woods Point and Mansfield in northeastern Victoria.

The earthquake was felt across Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory.

It caused minor structural damage in Melbourne, affected power supplies and generated tens of thousands of felt reports.

The 2021 earthquake was significantly stronger than Saturday’s magnitude 4.8 event.

Because earthquake magnitude is measured logarithmically, even a difference of just over one magnitude represents a substantial difference in the energy released.

Victoria Has Experienced Other Significant Earthquakes

Saturday’s earthquake is part of a broader history of seismic activity across Victoria.

Other significant recorded earthquakes include:

• Magnitude 5.9 near Woods Point and Mansfield in 2021
• Magnitude 5.7 near Mount Hotham in 1966
• Magnitude 5.4 near Wonnangatta in 1982
• Magnitude 5.4 near Moe in 2012
• Magnitude 5.3 near Boolara in 1969

While major earthquakes remain relatively uncommon in Australia, the events demonstrate that significant seismic activity can occur well away from major tectonic plate boundaries.

What Should Residents Do During an Earthquake?

Emergency authorities recommend the standard Drop, Cover and Hold On approach during strong shaking.

Residents should move away from windows and other objects that could fall, take shelter beneath sturdy furniture where possible and remain indoors until the shaking stops.

Homes can also be made safer by securing heavy furniture, shelving and other objects that could become hazards during an earthquake.

Smaller aftershocks can follow an earthquake, although their timing and size cannot be predicted with certainty.

For thousands of Victorians who woke to shaking homes and rattling windows, the magnitude 4.8 earthquake was another reminder that Australia may be far from the world’s major tectonic boundaries, but it is not earthquake free.

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