Victoria hit by seven earthquakes, tremors felt as far as NSW, Tasmania
Victorians have been urged to stay away from buildings in the event of a large aftershock as a further six tremors have hit since a 5.9 magnitude quake this morning.
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There has been a further six earthquakes since a 5.9 magnitude quake hit regional Victoria this morning — amid fears of a large aftershock.
Authorities have asked Victorians who are “experiencing an earthquake” to “stay away from buildings, trees, and any other large objects” while they are outdoors after bricks tumbled from the top of a building in the Melbourne suburb of Windsor this morning.
Geoscience Australia has updated its data to show there were five aftershocks within an hour of the biggest quake this morning. There was also an aftershock early this afternoon.
Thankfully, the additional six tremors were significantly smaller with the second most powerful quake — a magnitude-4.1 event — taking place at 9.33am, about 17 minutes after the big one.
However, drivers in Victoria are being urged to stay off the roads today and stay vigilant in case of aftershocks.
Victoria State Emergency Service chief officer Tim Wiebusch had some advice for residents who are “experiencing an earthquake”.
“When you start to experience an earthquake, if you are outdoor stay away from buildings, trees, and any other large objects,” he said this afternoon. “People have experienced damage to their property. We ask you to contact an authorised technician to check the utilities and make sure your property is safe.”
The state’s Deputy Premier has warned of aftershocks for weeks or possibly months to come after the quake this morning sent shockwaves as far away as Sydney, regional NSW, Canberra and Tasmania.
The violent tremors led to damage to buildings and homes in Victoria, and high-rise buildings being evacuated as far away as Adelaide — more than 800km from the epicentre in regional Victoria.
The initial 5.9 magnitude event was the largest earthquake ever recorded on land in Victoria.
Fortunately, there have been no reports of death or injury so far.
However, emergency services have also urged Victorians to be on high alert for aftershocks throughout the day – after the three quakes hit in quick succession this morning.
Emergency services have urged Victorians to stay off the roads.
“If you are located in Victoria, you are in danger,” the warning read.
“Expect aftershocks, stay away from damaged buildings and other hazards. Avoid driving, except for emergencies.”
Seismologists have warned that aftershocks are likely already occurring and there is a small likelihood that there could be a larger event today.
Citing experts, Victorian deputy premier James Merlino said it’s possible that aftershocks could continue for months.
“Geoscience have confirmed there is a possibility that we may receive further aftershocks and potential risk of further earthquakes,” he said in a press conference. “Indeed, more aftershocks could occur for weeks, if not months.”
Geoscience Australia said there was a magnitude 5.9 earthquake at a depth of 10km occurred with an epicentre near Mansfield in Victoria.
Mansfield is a small town in the foothills of the Victorian Alps. It is about 180km northeast of Melbourne by road.
“Widespread felt reports. If you have building damage or require SES assistance, phone 132500 and please be patient as lines may be busy,” it said. “There is no tsunami threat.”
A second quake, understood to be an aftershock and registering a magnitude of 4.0, has taken place in the same location.
According to Geoscience Australia the first quake was at 9.15am local time, and the second at 9.33am.
A third quake, registering a magnitude of 3.1 at a depth of 6km, hit at 9:54am nearby.
Residents from as far away as Dubbo in NSW have reported tremors from the quake, as well as in Sydney, regional New South Wales, the ACT, Adelaide and Launceston in Tasmania.
A magnitude 6.0 #Earthquake has occurred with an epicentre near Mansfield in Victoria. Widespread felt reports. If you have building damage or require SES assistance, phone 132500 and please be patient as lines may be busy. pic.twitter.com/8RUqnk4Iwb
— VICSES News (@vicsesnews) September 21, 2021
The majority of the damage meanwhile is in Melbourne.
A Coles supermarket on Chapel St in Prahran, in Melbourne’s south, has been evacuated and remains closed after a partial collapse of the building in this morning’s earthquake.
The store is 600 metres away from a Betty’s Burger restaurant which also partially collapsed.
Mr Merlino said building damage has been reported across Kensington, Ascot Vale, Prahran, Balwyn, Elsternwick, Northcote and West Melbourne.
Given the unrest on the streets of Melbourne in recent days, Deputy Police Commissioner Rick Nugent told 3AW he initially feared the shaking was the result of an explosion.
“We have that new Victoria Police building on Spencer Street, I’m on the 37th floor, so it’s up rather high, but it really did move,” he said.
“I just wondered … what now? After what we’ve endured in this great city.”
The Prime Minister gave a press conference from Washington D.C this morning, saying the earthquakes are a “very, very disturbing event”.
“At this stage, we have had no reports of serious injuries or worse and that is very good news and we hope that good news will continue but we will get further reports as the night unfolds here in the United States,” he said.
“It can be a very, very disturbing event for an earthquake of this nature. They are very rare events in Australia and as a result, I am sure people would have been quite depressed and disturbed by that, particularly in the most immediate area effected.
“The agencies at a State Government level are there, responding and the Federal Government will provide the support that is necessary and will be in touch further with the Premier.”
Geosciences Australia has confirmed this morning was the largest earthquake ever recorded on land in Victoria.
The largest earthquake ever recorded in Australia was in 1968, a 6.5-magnitude in Meckering, Western Australia.
The largest earthquake ever recorded offshore near Australia was a 6.6, in July 2019, 100km off the coast of Broome.
Mark Holcombe, the mayor of Mansfield, which was the epicentre of the quake, said it was “really strong” and caught everybody off-guard.
“It came right out of left field. We don’t have earthquakes, that I am aware of, none of the locals I spoke to this morning had that experience with earthquakes here before, so it is one right out of left field. It was just a really big crumble,” he told ABC Breakfast.
“It was really strong. I was sitting down at work at my desk and I needed to run outside, it took me awhile to work out what it was.
“I have been in earthquakes overseas before and it seemed to go on longer than I have experienced before. The other thing that surprised me was how noisy it was. It was a real rumbling like a truck going past.”
Did we just have an earthquake?
— Patricia Karvelas (@PatsKarvelas) September 21, 2021
Was that an earthquake, Melbourne? It certainly felt like it.
— Bill Shorten (@billshortenmp) September 21, 2021
Yes, that was an earthquake.
— Dan Andrews (@DanielAndrewsMP) September 21, 2021
The shudders were felt by the ABC Breakfast newsroom in Melbourne, where reporters said it was “quite frightening”.
Host Michael Rowlands said: “It was quite frightening. I think you would agree.
“We were chatting here in the studio after the show, after we threw to you in the mornings coverage. We were chatting away and all of a sudden the studio started shaking, not to shaking and a minor violently.
Originally published as Victoria hit by seven earthquakes, tremors felt as far as NSW, Tasmania
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