Melbourne hit by 3.8-magnitude earthquake, biggest to hit city in 120 years

Residents across Melbourne have been shaken by a 3.8-magnitude earthquake, with some saying they thought a truck had smashed into their house.

Residents across Melbourne have reported loud bangs and their homes shaking as a 3.8-magnitude earthquake hit on Sunday night.

The tremor struck about 11:40pm, 3km below Sunbury.

“It rolled like a shockwave and woke me up – bloody earth!” said one online poster.

People in city high-rises reported their buildings swaying violently.

While others in the southeastern suburbs said it felt “like a bomb going off”.

Now our place has even more character. Hope everyone is ok! #earthquake#Melbournepic.twitter.com/I5As29uolO

— Julia Steel (@julessteel) May 28, 2023

Many also described the earthquake as extremely loud, with some suspecting their houses were being broken into or cars had crashed nearby.

“Felt it strongly but the sound was something else,” one woman posted on social media.

“I thought a truck had smashed into our house!”

Others wondered if it was a “big explosion” or the “local rev head”.

Just looked back at my security camera from the #Earthquake

As you can see kitty is not impressed. #melbourneearthquakepic.twitter.com/TWdf9mGDVW

— Cait (@1080hertz) May 28, 2023

Seismology Research Centre head Adam Pascale, who lives in Melbourne, said the quake was the largest within 40km of Melbourne in more than 120 years.

“I was asleep and it got me out of bed,” Mr Pascale told 3AW on Monday morning.

“The adrenaline starting pumping.

“We’ve seen some posts on social media of people showing cracked plaster which is what you would expect from this sort of earthquake.”

Last night's magnitude 4.0 was the largest #earthquake within 40km of #Melbourne in over 120 years, the last being a magnitude 4.5 in 1902.
The @GeoscienceAus station at Greenvale (nearest the epicentre) was one of the first seismograph locations established by @AusQuake in 1976. pic.twitter.com/kDz4mjWoH6

— Adam Pascale (@SeisLOLogist) May 28, 2023

Geoscience Australia early Monday morning said it had received more than 21,000 reports from people who felt the quake, with tremors felt as far north as Bendigo and as far south as Hobart.

Sunday night’s earthquake comes after a smaller tremor last Monday, which registered a magnitude of 1.7, 4km below the surface of Croydon.

This map shows how far & wide the #earthquake in #Melbourne has been felt. We've had 21,386 reports so far - some as far north as Bendigo & as far south as Hobart. https://t.co/c9M3aKxQQipic.twitter.com/zADq94efoa

— Geoscience Australia (@GeoscienceAus) May 28, 2023

Victoria State Emergency Service website crashed as thousands of people sought more information.

VICSES said anyone who needed support should call 132 500.

Authorities warned there would likely be aftershocks in the coming hours and days.

In 2021 a 5.8 magnitude earthquake hit caused damage on Chapel Street Precinct where many heritage buildings sustained significant damage.

That quake was larger but its epicentre was in the tiny town of Woods Point about 130 kilometres east of Melbourne.

“This earthquake is about 100 times smaller than the one two years ago in September 2021, but it was a lot closer to Melbourne so it was felt in a similar intensity but for a shorter duration,” Mr Pascale told ABC radio on Monday.

VICSES recorded the epicentre of the latest quake around Sunbury at exactly 11:41pm with no injuries at the time of the shock.