People across Wollongong were shaken from their sleep after the earth moved under their beds on Wednesday morning.
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A 3.9-magnitude earthquake was recorded at Douglas Park, between Appin and Picton, by Geoscience Australia (GA) at 1.13am.
Despite no reports of damage or injuries, many people took to social media to report feeling the tremors.
More than 100 people called Geoscience Australia to report they had felt the earthquake, which was strong enough to give someone a bit of a shake while in bed, a spokesman said.
From the northern Illawarra to Windang, and many suburbs in between, residents were woken by rattling doors and windows.
The Victorian-based Seismology Research Centre reported the earthquake was very shallow, but could be felt up to 50 kilometres away.
GA mapping shows the quake’s effects being felt as far afield as Minnamurra, Moss Vale and Penrith.
Wollongong scientist, and self-professed “amateur seismologist”, Glen Moore recorded the tremor on his seismograph.
“You would expect people in Appin and Picton would have felt it fairly strongly, as well as those in Douglas Park,” Mr Moore said.
“In Wollongong, it seems that people did feel it, but on my recording the seismic waves were spread over about 15 seconds.
“Whereas you might get a sudden shock at the source of an earthquake, as the waves move out they disperse, which means that some travel faster than others and so the energy is spread out and it’s not as noticeable.”
Wollondilly state Liberal MP Jai Rowell was one of many who took to social media, using his Facebook page to reassure people there was no need for alarm.
“It is hard to believe we have had an earthquake in Wollondilly but we have,” Mr Rowell said.
“Please don't panic as it was a small one in the scheme of things but stay alert and report any emergency to the relevant emergency service as required.”
Mr Moore said Wednesday’s tremor “wasn’t a huge earthquake”, with readings greater than magnitude 3.9 recorded in the past.
According to GA, the area is prone to seismic activity, with nearly 50 earthquakes recorded in the past 50 years.
The most serious was a 4.8-magnitude tremor in 1999.
– with SMH, AAP
HOW YOU REACTED
We put the question to our Facebook followers: Did you feel the earth move?
- Rachelle Bird: “Yes. In Corrimal. Weird feeling.”
- James Pots: “I felt it in Wollongong!”
- Jess Trott: “Felt it in Windang.”
- Mark McCarthy: “Felt it in Fairy Meadow. Wondered why the door was rattling when the windows were closed and no breeze.”
Andrew Pearson
Andrew grew up in the western Riverina town of Hay and has strong ties to the region. He is a former DA journo who has a passion for breaking news and has covered everything from council and politics to crime and court.
Andrew grew up in the western Riverina town of Hay and has strong ties to the region. He is a former DA journo who has a passion for breaking news and has covered everything from council and politics to crime and court.
