Expert Warns of Further Tremors After Victoria Earthquake

A magnitude 4.8 tremor struck the Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia, just after 2 a.m. on Saturday, with an epicenter located 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) northeast of the town of Korumburra. The event, one of the strongest in the region in two decades, has prompted a geologist to warn of the possibility of further earthquakes.

Dr. Dee Ninis from Monash University explained that the initial earthquake alters the accumulation of stress within the Earth's crust, which can lead to subsequent tremors as the ground readjusts. "Aftershocks associated with this morning's earthquake are expected to continue over the next few days to weeks," Dr. Ninis told 7News. "Generally, these earthquakes will become smaller and less frequent with time. However, as with all aftershock sequences, there is a chance that an earthquake of similar magnitude or larger may occur."

More than 100 aftershocks have already been recorded following the main event. Residents reported being awakened by the shaking, with one resident of Caulfield South describing the experience as "scary." Another resident in Armadale heard items falling in their apartment. By 3 a.m., Geoscience Australia had received over 16,000 reports from individuals who felt the quake, with more than 21,000 eventually reporting the tremor, including those in Melbourne, approximately 120 kilometers (75 miles) from the epicenter. The initial earthquake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles).

The Victoria State Emergency Service advises those caught in an earthquake to "drop, cover and hold on" – to drop to the ground, take cover under sturdy furniture, and hold on until the shaking stops. For individuals in wheelchairs, locking the brakes is recommended.

The Gippsland region has experienced seismic activity in the past, including a magnitude 4.7 quake in 2009 and a 4.4 magnitude tremor in 2011. More significant earthquakes have been recorded elsewhere in Victoria, such as a magnitude 5.0 earthquake near the Great Ocean Road in October 2023 and a magnitude 5.9 shake near Woods Point in September 2021.