Melbourne & Adelaide: A Little Shake-Up
Okay, so picture this: it's Tuesday, about 12:30 am, and I'm fast asleep in my Melbourne bed. Suddenly, BAM! A jolt. A rumble. Honestly, who saw that coming? Turns out, it wasn't a monster truck rally outside my window – it was a magnitude 2.8 earthquake. Geoscience Australia said the epicentre was near Mount Dandenong, in Olinda. Pretty close!
It wasn't just a quick tremor either. Over 620 people reported feeling it, all the way from Jam Jerrup in the south to Craigieburn in the north. That's a pretty wide spread!
A Double Earthquake? Seriously?
And then things got weirder. Less than two hours later, another earthquake hit, this time near Adelaide. A magnitude 2.7, centered around Nairne. Nearly 200 people felt that one too. You know how sometimes things just spiral? This felt like one of those times.
What's Going On Down There?
So, what gives? Apparently, it’s all down to the Australian tectonic plate. This massive chunk of rock is constantly moving – about 7cm a year. That might not sound like much, but over time, that movement builds up a lot of pressure. Eventually, that pressure has to release somehow, and it does so in the form of earthquakes. These recent ones were pretty minor, thankfully. But, just to put things in perspective, imagine the 1954 Adelaide earthquake, magnitude 5.4. It caused serious injuries and damage to thousands of buildings. Yikes! And then there was the big one, a 6.6 magnitude earthquake near Tennant Creek in 1988 – the largest ever recorded in Australia.
Melbourne's Mixed Reactions
Back to Melbourne, the reactions were pretty varied. Some people described a loud bang followed by shaking, others just felt a slight rumble. It all depends on how close you are to the epicentre, the type of building you're in, and even the geology of the area. It's amazing how much difference those factors can make!
Staying Safe: It's a Good Idea
Geoscience Australia is all over this, collecting data from people who felt the tremors. This helps them plan for emergencies and better understand earthquakes in Australia. You can report your experience on their website. While these recent quakes were small, it’s a good reminder that Australia isn’t exactly immune to earthquakes, and being prepared is always a smart move. It's definitely food for thought!
