Melbourne Earthquake. At 11.41pm, a magnitude 3.8 earthquake rattled Melbourne on Sunday night with it’s epicentre recorded in Sunbury located 39km north-west of the CBD in the City of Hume according to Geoscience Australia
The seismic event occurred at 11:41 p.m., leaving residents momentarily shaken but ultimately relieved as no injuries or significant damage has been reported so far.
Geoscience Australia reported the magnitude 3.8 quake near Sunbury on Melbourne’s north-west fringe, at an estimated depth of three kilometres.
Image Below – Seismology Research Centre – Earthquake felt across Melbourne at 11:41pm on Sunday 28 May
News of the earthquake quickly spread as residents took to social media to share their experiences.
Adam Pascale, the chief scientist at the Seismology Research Centre, used Twitter to provide updates. According to his tweets, the earthquake measured a magnitude of 4 and originated in the northern suburbs of Melbourne, specifically around the Craigieburn and Greenvale vicinity.
Mr. Pascale also noted that this could possibly be the largest earthquake experienced in the Melbourne metropolitan area in over a century.
In a video shared on Twitter, he mentioned that the last earthquake above magnitude 4 in the metro area occurred back in 1902. Despite its shallow depth, Mr. Pascale cautioned that there might be potential damage near the epicenter.
Melburnians, who felt the ground tremble and heard objects rattling took to social media in a frenzy to recount their gripping experiences with many describing a sudden jolt or shaking sensation lasting for a few seconds, prompting concern and surprise.
A Bentleigh East resident said, “Plenty of window rattling, dogs barking and what sounded like an jumbo about to crash land near the house”
Additionally, a Newport resident located in Melbourne’s west says she was woken to her entire house rattling which latest several seconds.
The earthquake follows a magnitude 2.5 seismic event near Ferntree Gully, 30 kilometres south-east of Melbourne’s CBD, on May 16. The Seismology Research Centre in Melbourne say due to the quake being so shallow there could be minor damage.
Melbourne Earthquke History
In September 2021, Melbourne experienced a significant earthquake that resulted in various damages, including the renowned Chapel Street shopping strip.
With a magnitude of 5.9, it stands as the most powerful earthquake ever documented in Victoria. However, its epicenter was located at Woods Point, approximately 130 kilometers east of Melbourne.
The tremors reverberated across regions in New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, and the ACT and was followed by two 4.0 and 3.1 magnitude aftershocks 18 and 39 minutes later – both within 10km of the original tremors.
