The Kilkivan-Widgee-Goomeri earthquake on 16 August was felt from Cairns to Sydney and was Queensland’s biggest land-based quake in 50 years, according to federal government body, Geoscience Australia.
And aftershocks are to be expected.
Seismologist Michelle Salmon said people had reported feeling the quake over a large area of east coasst Australia, from Cairns to Sydney.
“There has been one larger earthquake, but that was offshore near Bowen,” she said.
At Magnitude 5.6, it had potential to cause damage. Kilkivan was the closest town.
.”It was felt from Cairns all the way down to Sydney.”
She said her organisation had received 12,000 “felt reports” for the event.
“If you feel an earthquake you should get under something solid, so nothing falls on you and hold on until the shaking stops.
“Once the shaking has stopped and you are safe, you should go into the Geoscience ‘earthquakes@ga’.
“The felt reports are really important because they provide us with information of where the worst shaking has occurred.
“It gives us information to state emergency services and also gives information to Geoscience Australia for hazard modelling for the future.
“We can certainly expect more aftershocks from this event,” she said.
