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Aftershock rattles Gippsland as experts warn of larger quakes to come

3.2 magnitude tremor follows Saturday's 4.8 quake; more than 2000 report feeling it

By LineZotpaper
Published
Updated
Read Time2 min
Sources4 outlets
A 3.2 magnitude aftershock shook Gippsland residents awake on Wednesday night, days after a 4.8 magnitude earthquake rattled Victoria, with a leading seismologist warning that a larger event cannot be ruled out in the short term.

Victorians should brace for further significant earthquakes, experts warn, after the latest tremor hit near Leongatha, about 135 kilometres south-east of Melbourne. More than 2000 people reported feeling the 3.2 magnitude aftershock, according to Geoscience Australia.

The event came less than a week after Saturday morning's 4.8 magnitude quake, which struck just after 2am on October 3. Its epicentre was six kilometres north-east of the Gippsland town of Korumburra, about 15 kilometres from Wednesday night's aftershock. That quake was the biggest in Victoria in four years.

Victoria's State Emergency Service received one request for assistance related to the aftershock. There were no reports of building damage or other requests for help.

Seismology Research Centre chief scientist Adam Pascale said people near the epicentres should prepare for the possibility of another tremor. "In the short term, after an event, there is an increased likelihood of an equivalent or larger event," Pascale told The Age. "The longer we go on, the lower the likelihood becomes."

The initial quake on October 3 was felt widely across the state, from Ballarat to Bairnsdale, Euroa to Wilsons Promontory.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • The sequence of tremors raises the possibility of a larger, potentially damaging earthquake in a region not accustomed to significant seismic events.
  • Residents in Gippsland and wider Victoria should review emergency preparedness, as aftershocks can continue for days or weeks.
  • The lack of damage so far is reassuring, but the warning from seismologists underscores that the risk has not passed.

Background

Victoria is not typically associated with strong seismic activity, though minor earthquakes are recorded periodically. Saturday's 4.8 magnitude quake was the largest in the state since a similar event in 2022. The region's geology includes ancient fault lines that can produce small to moderate tremors, but larger quakes are rare.

Key Perspectives

Seismology Research Centre (Adam Pascale): The chief scientist warned that the short-term likelihood of an earthquake of equivalent or greater magnitude is elevated after any seismic event, and advised caution for those near the epicentre. Victorian State Emergency Service: Reported minimal impact, with only one request for assistance and no damage reports, indicating the community has weathered the aftershock without serious disruption.

What to Watch

  • Whether further aftershocks occur in the coming days and whether any exceed magnitude 4.
  • Geoscience Australia's continued monitoring and any updated risk assessments.
  • Potential building inspections in the epicentral area if larger quakes materialise.

Sources

Zotpaper

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