Australia: A magnitude 4.8 earthquake struck near Leongatha in Victoria on October 3, sending tremors across Melbourne and waking residents in parts of the region.
Geoscience Australia recorded the earthquake shortly after 2 am at a shallow depth of about 10 kilometres. The epicentre was located near Leongatha in South Gippsland, about 135 kilometres southeast of Melbourne. More than 16,000 felt reports had been submitted to Geoscience Australia by 3 am.
Residents across Melbourne and surrounding areas reported feeling the shaking. Reports came from suburbs including Narre Warren, Preston and Heidelberg Heights, as well as locations in regional Victoria. The earthquake was strong enough to shake houses and wake people from sleep, although authorities reported no injuries or property damage following the initial assessment.
Victoria State Emergency Service stated that there was no immediate threat to the community and no action was required. A magnitude 3.1 aftershock was recorded near Leongatha shortly before 3 am, less than an hour after the main earthquake. Geoscience Australia stated that further aftershocks were possible, although their frequency generally decreases after the main event.
The earthquake occurred in South Gippsland, an area known for relatively frequent seismic activity. Geoscience Australia notes that earthquakes occur regularly across Australia, with more than 100 earthquakes above magnitude 3 recorded nationally each year.
The latest earthquake was the strongest recorded in Victoria since a magnitude 5.0 earthquake along the Great Ocean Road in 2023, according to the supplied report. The state was also affected by a magnitude 5.9 earthquake near Mansfield in September 2021, which caused damage in parts of Victoria, including Melbourne.
The Bureau of Meteorology reported that the earthquake did not pose a tsunami threat. Emergency authorities have urged residents to remain calm, check their surroundings for hazards and be prepared for possible aftershocks.
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