2021 Mansfield earthquake
 | This article documents a recent earthquake. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. |
  | |
| UTC time | 2021-09-21 23:15:53 |
|---|---|
| USGS-ANSS | ComCat |
| Local date | 22 September 2021 |
| Local time | 09:15:54 |
| Duration | approx. 10 seconds |
| Magnitude | 5.9 Mw (USGS), 5.8 Mw (GSA) |
| Depth | 10 km (6 mi) |
| Epicenter | 37°29′17″S 146°21′50″E / 37.488°S 146.364°E |
| Max. intensity | MMI VII (Very strong)[1] |
An earthquake struck near the town of Mansfield, in the Victorian Alps on 22 September 2021, at 09:15 local time. The earthquake measured 5.7 according to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre[2] and 5.8 on the moment magnitude scale by the U.S. Geological Survey[1] and Geoscience Australia.[3] Videos on social media showed damage to the exteriors of buildings in Melbourne.[4] The earthquake was felt as far north as Sydney and Canberra.
Tectonic setting
The Australian landmass is situated in the Australian Plate, far from any known active plate boundary, where most of the world's earthquakes occur. Such earthquakes at the plate boundary are known as interplate earthquakes. In Australia, earthquakes occurring within the Australian Plate are known as intraplate earthquakes because they happen within a tectonic plate rather than at the boundary.[5]
Earthquake
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the earthquake was the result of strike-slip faulting at a shallow depth of 10 km.[1] The EMSC reported the focal depth at 2 km.[2] A preliminary insight of the quake of such magnitude suggest a rupture along a fault measuring 5 km long and 3 km wide.[6]
The earthquake with a moment magnitude of 5.8 or 5.9 is substantially stronger that the deadly 1989 Newcastle earthquake, which measured Mw 5.6, and killed 13 people.[7]
Impact
Many residential buildings in Melbourne were evacuated due to the damage inflicted by the quake. Significant damage was reported in many parts of Victoria.[8] At Chapel Street, Melbourne, the earthquake collapsed the top facade of a brick building and left debris across the road.[5] According to a geologist at the University of Melbourne, the quake produced ten seconds of strong shaking which was felt by people.[6]
Geoscience Australia said that the magnitude 5.8 quake is the strongest to hit Australia on land since 1997, and the strongest in Victoria in 50 years.[5]
Response
The Fire and Rescue NSW service stated on social media that they had recieved calls for assistance in the New South Wales area, but did not report any serious structural damage.[9]
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison reassured that there were no serious damage or reports of casualties from the quake.[7]
See also
References
- ^ a b c "M 5.8 - 38 km S of Mount Buller, Australia". earthquake.usgs.gov. U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
- ^ a b "M 5.7 - NEAR S.E. COAST OF AUSTRALIA - 2021-09-21 23:15:52 UTC". EMSC. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
- ^ "Mansfield, VIC". earthquakes.ga.gov.au. Geoscience Australia. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
- ^ "Jana Vent on Twitter". twitter.com. Twitter. 21 September 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
- ^ a b c Jamie Ensor (22 September 2021). "Earthquake: Magnitude 5.8 shake hits Melbourne". Newshub. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
- ^ a b "Earthquake in Australia: Buildings shake from Melbourne to Canberra". Stuff. 22 September 2021. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
- ^ a b Byron Kaye; Renju Jose; Sonali Paul; Shubham Kalia; Michael Perry; Shri Navaratnam (22 September 2021). "Magnitude 6.0 earthquake strikes near Melbourne, tremors rattle southeast Australia". Reuters. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
- ^ "Mansfield magnitude-6 earthquake shakes Melbourne, regional Victoria, southern NSW, Sydney, Canberra, Adelaide and Launceston". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 22 September 2021. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
- ^ "Damage in Melbourne as tremors rock Australia". Herald Sun. 22 September 2021. Retrieved 22 September 2021.