A 3.1 magnitude earthquake hit just outside of the Australian Capital Territory near Canberra, the capital city of Australia, at 10:05 a.m. local time on Jan. 18.
The quake occurred near Forde, a northern suburb of Canberra, with the epicentre of the earthquake just outside the ACT.
“Hi everyone, our seismologists have just updated the location of the epicentre to outside the ACT’s border, near Sutton,” Geoscience Australia wrote on Facebook around 11 a.m., and provided an updated map of the location.
The quake had a depth of about 10 kilometers (6.2 miles). Geoscience Australia said that by about 10:30 a.m., 200 reports of the quake had already been filed.
Did you feel the Earth move this morning in the northern suburbs of Canberra? At approximately 10:05 am AEDT there was a magnitude 3.1 earthquake near Forde. We have already received almost 200 felt reports. You can complete a felt report online at https://t.co/ggGwAKzGGt #eqaus pic.twitter.com/12F8V8hbyp
— Geoscience Australia (@GeoscienceAus) January 17, 2019
People told 2GB radio that they had “felt a bang and shaking.”
JUST IN | A magnitude 3.1 earthquake has hit Canberra.
Listeners are telling us they felt a bang and shaking.
— 2GB 873 (@2GB873) January 17, 2019
On Twitter, some called the quake “bloody scary” while others dubbed it “cute.”
“North Canberra just had an Earthquake or major tremor bloody scary!” user Scott Thorpe wrote on Twitter.
North Canberra just had a Earthquake or major tremor bloody scary! https://t.co/ELaX7ICNgs @2GB873 @7NewsSydney @9NewsSyd #imacanberiangetmeoutofhere
— Scott Thorpe (@scottythorpe) January 17, 2019
But Tanya Bradanovich did not see the mini-tremor the same way, writing to Twitter: “My first Australian tremor (because there’s no way I’ll let you call this 2-second movement an earthquake, Canberra). How cute!”
My first Australian tremor (because there’s no way I’ll let you call this 2 second movement an earthquake, Canberra). How cute!
— Tanya Bradanovich (@nekkogirl) January 17, 2019
Some went away with the euphemisms and called the quake “ineffective.”
Earthquake in Canberra ineffective
— Mr C&D demographic (@MrCsandDs) January 17, 2019
One opportunist wondered whether he can go home after feeling the rumble in his office.
Just felt the office floor rumble, thinking it was construction nearby. But it was an earthquake! Surely this means we can take the rest of the day off? ???? #Canberra #earthquake
— Adam Spence (@AdamSpenceAU) January 17, 2019
One man noted the extreme weather conditions that the capital city has had to endure as of late.
“Canberra! First a record-breaking heatwave, then a massive electrical storm, now an earthquake,” he wrote on Twitter.
Canberra! First a record-breaking heatwave, then a massive electrical storm, now an earthquake. #auspol
— Bevan Shields (@BevanShields) January 17, 2019
No casualties have been reported.
3.1 earthquake in North side Canberra pic.twitter.com/fVT8kxv9VN
— Andrew Nathan (@AndrewNathan05) January 17, 2019
Earthquake hazard seismologist Trevor Allen told the ABC that there is a “long history of earthquakes in the Canberra region.”
“In terms of the capital cities across Australia, Canberra is one of the highest rated in terms of the earthquake hazard,” Allen said in 2017.
He said the last known earthquake that was felt throughout the region was a 3.7 magnitude quake in 2012, near Wee Jasper, about 92 kilometers from Canberra.
Australian residents can report quakes to Geoscience Australia (link) or EMSC (link).
