Back-to-back earthquakes jolt two major cities. Here's what we know so far
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It was a restless night for many Aussies as the unexpected happened in the wee hours.
The question is, could the ground shake where you live next?
Two earthquakes rattled the nation's southeast, which left thousands of residents wide awake.
At around 12:30 am Tuesday, Melbourne felt a magnitude 2.8 earthquake.
The epicentre was in Mount Dandenong and had a depth of 5 km.
According to Geoscience Australia's data, more than 620 people reported the shake as it happened.
Reports came in from Jam Jerrup and Craigieburn, showing how far these vibrations were felt despite being a 'minor' quake.
At around 2:00 am on the same day, Adelaide residents were shaken by a magnitude 2.7 earthquake centred near Nairne at a depth of 9 km.
Nearly 200 people contacted authorities to report the event, mainly from the Adelaide region and surrounding hills.
There were no reported casualties or damages throughout the shake-up.
According to the Seismology Research Centre's Chief Scientist, Adam Pascale, small earthquakes have become a regular occurrence in Adelaide Hills between March and May.
However, Mr Pascale also pointed out that it's not the weather or the seasons causing these shakes.
He pointed out that the cause of these earthquakes was the slow, relentless build-up of stress deep in the earth's surface.
'There's been a magnitude six in South Australia in recent history… it's quite likely that there will be another large event sometime,' Mr Pascale warned.
'Unfortunately, I can't predict these things, but we know that we will see an event of magnitude five or six, probably in the next 50 or 100 years.'
Both Melbourne and Adelaide sit on the Australian tectonic plate, which shifts about 7 cm annually.
This movement may cause stress to build up in the earth's crust, which eventually gets released as an earthquake.
While massive, devastating earthquakes have not hit Australia, the country is definitely not immune to it.
Australia's largest recorded quake was in 1988 near Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory, which had a magnitude of 6.6.
The 1989 Newcastle earthquake also claimed 13 lives and caused widespread destruction in the country.
Some might even remember the 1954 Adelaide earthquake, which injured three people, damaged 3,000 buildings and led to more than 30,000 insurance claims.
It's always wise to be prepared, especially for seniors living in an area that's prone to tremors.
Did you feel the ground move in Melbourne or Adelaide last night? Have you experienced a bigger quake in the past? Share your experiences, quake survival tips, and questions in the comments below. Stay safe, informed, and prepared.
The question is, could the ground shake where you live next?
Two earthquakes rattled the nation's southeast, which left thousands of residents wide awake.
At around 12:30 am Tuesday, Melbourne felt a magnitude 2.8 earthquake.
The epicentre was in Mount Dandenong and had a depth of 5 km.
Geoscience Australia pointed at the earthquakes' epicentres. Image Credit: Geoscience Australia
According to Geoscience Australia's data, more than 620 people reported the shake as it happened.
Reports came in from Jam Jerrup and Craigieburn, showing how far these vibrations were felt despite being a 'minor' quake.
At around 2:00 am on the same day, Adelaide residents were shaken by a magnitude 2.7 earthquake centred near Nairne at a depth of 9 km.
Nearly 200 people contacted authorities to report the event, mainly from the Adelaide region and surrounding hills.
There were no reported casualties or damages throughout the shake-up.
According to the Seismology Research Centre's Chief Scientist, Adam Pascale, small earthquakes have become a regular occurrence in Adelaide Hills between March and May.
However, Mr Pascale also pointed out that it's not the weather or the seasons causing these shakes.
He pointed out that the cause of these earthquakes was the slow, relentless build-up of stress deep in the earth's surface.
'There's been a magnitude six in South Australia in recent history… it's quite likely that there will be another large event sometime,' Mr Pascale warned.
'Unfortunately, I can't predict these things, but we know that we will see an event of magnitude five or six, probably in the next 50 or 100 years.'
Both Melbourne and Adelaide sit on the Australian tectonic plate, which shifts about 7 cm annually.
This movement may cause stress to build up in the earth's crust, which eventually gets released as an earthquake.
While massive, devastating earthquakes have not hit Australia, the country is definitely not immune to it.
Australia's largest recorded quake was in 1988 near Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory, which had a magnitude of 6.6.
The 1989 Newcastle earthquake also claimed 13 lives and caused widespread destruction in the country.
Some might even remember the 1954 Adelaide earthquake, which injured three people, damaged 3,000 buildings and led to more than 30,000 insurance claims.
It's always wise to be prepared, especially for seniors living in an area that's prone to tremors.
