Magnitude 4.0 Earthquake Detected Off Western Australian Coast

A 4.0 magnitude earthquake struck offshore from Western Australia, approximately 380 km south of Perth, at a depth of 10 km. Reports of tremors were minimal among residents nearby. This quake follows several recent minor seismic events in the region, including two smaller quakes in Collie and one in Lake Muir. Meanwhile, New South Wales experienced a similar seismic event.

An earthquake measuring 4.0 on the Richter scale was detected offshore from the Western Australian coast. The event, recorded by Geoscience Australia, occurred in the Southern Ocean, approximately 380 kilometers south of Perth, near the D’Entrecasteaux National Park, at approximately 10:45 AM local time on Thursday. The seismic event’s depth was assessed to be approximately 10 kilometers. Reports from residents in nearby towns such as Augusta, Margaret River, and Manjimup indicated minimal perception of the quake’s effects. This tremor follows a series of seismic activities in the region, including two smaller earthquakes experienced in Collie three days earlier, along with a minor quake reported in Lake Muir in the southwestern part of Western Australia nearly a week prior. Additionally, the Upper Hunter Valley in New South Wales recorded a separate earthquake with a magnitude of 4.1 near Denman on Tuesday, further underscoring the recent seismic activity across the region.

Earthquakes are significant geological phenomena that occur when stress accumulated in the Earth’s crust is released, resulting in seismic waves. Australia is not generally known for its frequent or severe earthquake activity compared to other parts of the world, yet regions such as Western Australia can experience occasional tremors due to geological shifts. The monitoring of seismic activity in Australia is undertaken by organizations like Geoscience Australia, which provides updates and analyses of such occurrences, as seen in this recent event off the Western Australian coast.

In summary, the recent earthquake off the Western Australian coast highlights ongoing seismic activities in the region. While the 4.0 magnitude quake was predominantly felt in surrounding areas with limited impacts reported, it follows a series of minor tremors in the wider vicinity. Such events serve as reminders of the dynamic geological processes at work within the Earth’s crust, even in less seismically active regions.

Original Source: www.news.com.au