West Australians face days of aftershocks in the wake of a 5.6 magnitude earthquake in the state’s southwest.
Geoscience Australia senior seismologist Phil Cummins said he expected aftershocks “of decreasing magnitude and size” to continue for some time.
“It is quite a rare event and especially to have it occurred in this place. On the south coast earthquakes are more rare,” Professor Cummins said.
Region: Walpole, Great Southern Region, Western Australia
Mag: 5.6
Event Local Time: 16-09-2018 12:56:23 AWST
Lat: -34.41, Lon:116.74
Dep: 0kmhttps://t.co/b8kLjJO0mV— EarthquakesGA (@EarthquakesGA) September 16, 2018
Residents in Walpole, near to the quake, may feel aftershocks for days, while those in the immediate vicinity of the quake could even feel the aftershocks for weeks.
The Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre detected the earthquake, reported as being centred between Kojonup and Walpole, just before 1pm on Sunday.
And it was felt as far as… West Perth. From my 4th floor apartment! https://t.co/VqW0BUG8oU
— Hayley Roman (@hayleyroman) September 16, 2018
The agency had no recorded earthquake above 5.0 magnitude in the immediate area of Sunday’s event, Prof Cummins said.
Walpole Visitors Centre volunteer Colin Steele said it felt “like a big truck passing very close by” for about five to eight seconds but the building was still standing.
Wow. The earth has just moved here in Albany, Western Australia. Quite a strong tremor that lasted about 45 seconds. #earthquake.
— Chris Mannolini (@ChrisMannolini) September 16, 2018
Has there just been an earthquake in #Perth ? 1:00pm. Chairs started rocking in my house and felt the ground moving.
— Colin Percy (@colin_percy) September 16, 2018
Looks Like Our @TheWAWG #Earthquake Detection Kit Just Paid For Itself… #Perthquake #Perth #PerthNews #SouthWestWA #GreatSouthern #Albany #Walpole pic.twitter.com/K27e684H8Q
— Weather WA (@weather_wa) September 16, 2018
AAP
