An earthquake hit the area I grew up in last night
@RawBill1 (8531)
Gold Coast, Australia
June 19, 2012 5:14pm CST
I live interstate these days well away from this area so I did not feel a thing, but last night as I was just heading off to bed and turning off my phone when a Facebook post from my sister about the quake popped up on my screen. It said "What was that? An earthquake?" 
I then went into my Facebook app and saw many other similar posts from friends and family all over the city of Melbourne, Australia and some of their friends from areas well away from the city. I then started thinking "wow this must have been a big one, it has been felt far and wide". 
It turned out to be a 5.3 magnitude tremor which is not devastatingly massive compared to some overseas ones but it was the largest to hit this part of Australia in over 100 years! It was felt right across the state of Victoria and even into the state of New South Wales. Luckily the reported damage has been minor so far.
You can check out the story of it here:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-06-19/magnitude-53-quake-shakes-southern-vic/4080446
I have never felt an earth tremor at all even though there were small ones when I lived in this region. Have you ever felt one? How was the experience? 
I then went into my Facebook app and saw many other similar posts from friends and family all over the city of Melbourne, Australia and some of their friends from areas well away from the city. I then started thinking "wow this must have been a big one, it has been felt far and wide".
It turned out to be a 5.3 magnitude tremor which is not devastatingly massive compared to some overseas ones but it was the largest to hit this part of Australia in over 100 years! It was felt right across the state of Victoria and even into the state of New South Wales. Luckily the reported damage has been minor so far.
You can check out the story of it here:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-06-19/magnitude-53-quake-shakes-southern-vic/4080446
I have never felt an earth tremor at all even though there were small ones when I lived in this region. Have you ever felt one? How was the experience? 5 people like this
15 responses
@BabyCheetah (1911)
• Australia
20 Jun 12
Don't worry about it it was I thnk 16km from Moe. I felt it for about 10 seconds and it was quite small but kind of cool to experience. I'm not saying I'd love to be in a massive earthquake but it was quite an experience as we don't get them very often and when we do they are so tiny.
Maybe it's a sign! 2012 and all not even Melbourne is safe!
1 person likes this
@BabyCheetah (1911)
• Australia
21 Jun 12
Exactly it was so stupid they all knew they were on a plane! :P
Well I'd consider that good news. At least she is OK :)
@BabyCheetah (1911)
• Australia
20 Jun 12
I guess when you have family and you are not near them it's a worry. Like the earthquake near Bologna, Italy. The family were OK but I kept getting messages and bugged from the family because my grandmother and aunt were on their way there. I don't know how many time I had to say they were still on a plane so wouldn't have felt anything HAHA!
Yeah with technology these days you can find out things pretty quick!
Haaahaaaa there will be quite a commotion if that happened for the grand final! :D
1 person likes this
@veganbliss (3895)
• Adelaide, Australia
19 Jun 12
Sorry for your friends & family.
The earthquakes are getting more & more frequent here too, especially in the last decade. But "oh no", it just can't possibly be related to global warming now & the rate at which we're so good at stuffing up the planet now can it? I wonder how much all that mining going on there has to do with it?
The earthquakes are getting more & more frequent here too, especially in the last decade. But "oh no", it just can't possibly be related to global warming now & the rate at which we're so good at stuffing up the planet now can it? I wonder how much all that mining going on there has to do with it? 1 person likes this
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
19 Jun 12
I don't know if anyone I know suffered any damage to their homes as it is still not long after the event, but I doubt they would have as most are a distance from the centre of it all. It is interesting what you are saying about mining. I had not linked this quake and mining yet, but it could have some effect. The centre of the quake was just down the road from Victoria's largest power stations and coal mining region. It cannot help that's for sure!
1 person likes this
@veganbliss (3895)
• Adelaide, Australia
20 Jun 12
Weren't you going to get in touch with him for us? I thought you said you'd do that after several members here tried to contact him with no reply.
1 person likes this
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
20 Jun 12
Yes, we have an awful lot of earthquakes here along the California coast. At first I was never afraid of the, until the biggest one I ever was in hit in 1989 (it was 7.1) and I was at work at the time and did get slightly hurt by it with effects lasting for six months after, even though I was in an earthquake safe building. However, I was lucky not to have been one of the six people who were killed in that one. It did $433 million in property damage!
Now I am more jumpy when one hits, even a little one.
1 person likes this
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
20 Jun 12
Yes, it was the Loma Prieta that started in Santa Cruz. 42 people were killed on the Cypress fwy and 1 more on the Bay Bridge. I was north of there but along the same fault line and I was at work talking on the phone with a customer who lived in Santa Cruz when it hit and I heard his dog howl and then he said "OMG!" and I was asking "Are you all right?" and he stammered out "Earthquake!" and at some seconds later it hit where I was. Since we were on the 3rd floor, there was lateral movement which threw us against furniture. None of the windows broke.
1 person likes this
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
20 Jun 12
Was the 1989 one the big one to hit San Francisco? I can remember a huge one devastating the city around that time. It sounds like you were very lucky indeed! Did you fall over or did something crash down on you?
When we were in California a few m0nths back I was amazed by the Tsunami evacuation routes through the streets along the coastal suburbs. The evacuation signs were everywhere. I guess if a quake happened just off the coast, it would cause massive damage with the waves as well as the shaking.
I can hardly begin to imagine how you must feel when you feel a tremor these days.
When we were in California a few m0nths back I was amazed by the Tsunami evacuation routes through the streets along the coastal suburbs. The evacuation signs were everywhere. I guess if a quake happened just off the coast, it would cause massive damage with the waves as well as the shaking.
I can hardly begin to imagine how you must feel when you feel a tremor these days.2 people like this
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
20 Jun 12
Wow, that would have been terrifying, you were especially lucky to get out of the building being on the third floor. I think I remember seeing footage of that freeway at the time. It was pretty crazy the way it buckled and opened up from memory!
What happened on the Bay Bridge? Did the top level collapse onto the lower one? Or did cars just crash? I have been over that bridge and I find it pretty amazing to drive on.
What happened on the Bay Bridge? Did the top level collapse onto the lower one? Or did cars just crash? I have been over that bridge and I find it pretty amazing to drive on.2 people like this
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
20 Jun 12
MY GOODNESS, glad u weren't in the quake.We have tremors quite often but i have never felt one, thank heavens.They say we are sitting on a big fault line in this area but i hope we never have one. U stay safe.
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
20 Jun 12
I am glad too, but a small part of me would like to be able to experience a small one. Just not one that was going to cause any damage or injuries. I am sure that there were small tremors when I lived there, but I cannot recall ever feeling any. They were that small.
1 person likes this
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
21 Jun 12
I live in Missouri in USA. Near the New Madrid fault line, a hundred or so years ago this fault line moved and caused the Mighty Mississippi to run backwards for awhile and is long overdue for another jolt.
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/states/events/1811-1812.php
We feel tremors from 2-4 on the richter scale once in awhile. They say if another hits as strong as the one in 1812, St. Louis and Memphis will be severely affected. I live about 3 hrs from each, hopefully we will not be damaged to much. BUT there's always that super volcano under Yellowstone waiting to lay waste the entire middle of the country, or maybe even the entire continent of North America. It's causing the park to rise up several inches a year for awhile.
I'm glad you are safe. I hope no Aussies were hurt. Just remember me if you hear of any great disasters in my neck of the woods.
I'm glad you are safe. I hope no Aussies were hurt. Just remember me if you hear of any great disasters in my neck of the woods. 1 person likes this
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
21 Jun 12
I had no idea that there was a fault line running through the middle of the USA. I have only ever thought of USA earthquakes being along the West Coast. I tend to think of your region as being more of a tornado risk area. 
The river ran backwards! Wow! That is pretty remarkable!
I had no idea that there was a "Super Volcano" under Yellowstone! I knew there were geysers and all sorts of activity there but had not really given much thought to why that activity existed.
No one here was seriously injured. I think the worst injury was to a man who had the misfortune of being up a ladder at the time it struck. As you can imagine, the ladder did not stay upright and he went down! I am not sure what his injuries were. 
The river ran backwards! Wow! That is pretty remarkable!
I had no idea that there was a "Super Volcano" under Yellowstone! I knew there were geysers and all sorts of activity there but had not really given much thought to why that activity existed.
No one here was seriously injured. I think the worst injury was to a man who had the misfortune of being up a ladder at the time it struck. As you can imagine, the ladder did not stay upright and he went down! I am not sure what his injuries were. 1 person likes this
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
21 Jun 12
6.4 is a decent sized tremor. No wonder you felt that far away where you live. You would not want that sized quake to hit where you live. Hopefully you will never get to experience the full force of one.
@buenavida (9985)
• Sweden
15 Aug 12
Sounds scary... I have travelled in earthquake areas, but never experienced one. I hope to never do either..
Scandinavia is pretty safe area - so far..
I have travelled in earthquake areas, but never experienced one. I hope to never do either..
Scandinavia is pretty safe area - so far..@buenavida (9985)
• Sweden
17 Aug 12
Well, for those who like winter sports, this is a good place.. But to live near the Arctic Circle is a challenge during the darkest time of the year..
I wish we could save some of the light in summer and use it during winter - something for the inventors to think about..
Some go to Spain during winter, but it can be pretty cold there too. A subway to Australia perhaps..??
I wish we could save some of the light in summer and use it during winter - something for the inventors to think about..
Some go to Spain during winter, but it can be pretty cold there too. A subway to Australia perhaps..??
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
28 Jun 12
At school one day at Hurstville, I remember feeling a bit of a bump or a tremble as our desks moved/jumped ever so slightly. I think the windows rattled a little at the same time and we later found out it was a minor tremor. We were on the second floor of a 3 storey building, the canteen area was semi underground then the first floor then our floor then the top floor.
It was nothing really and I cannot even remember what class I was in. I just seem to remember the nun telling us to pay attention as she carried on.
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
5 Jul 12
That would be pretty freaky being up in a multi story building. I reckon that you would have felt it more due to the swaying and flexibility in the building. I may have felt small tremors as a child, but I cannot remember feeling any!
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
19 Jun 12
I have never been in an area close to the epicentre of an earthquake but I have felt those which have been really strong on several occasions here in Italt. the most recent was twice on the 29th May, even though I am over 300 miles from where the tremor took place. There are still tremors in that area and no sign of them subsiding with thousands homeless and living in tents now. Thw industries have been very badly affected in the are too.
I wasn't aware that Australia was even prone to earthquakes, which makes me think that nowhere seems safe from them these days.
You might like to look at this. I have it bookmarked and it is interesting, though scary, to watch while it updates in real time:
http://www.emsc-csem.org/#2w
1 person likes this
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
20 Jun 12
I do remember hearing about that earthquake in Italy. There seems to be many of them these days around the world. We hear of them globally so often that we get numbed to them until one hits close to home. That is sad to hear that so many are homeless in Italy now.
The beauty of Australia is that our population is so small, so when we do have natural disasters, the impact is quite minor compared with other nations. We have it all here. Think of any natural occurrence (apart from active volcanoes I guess), and we have it to some degree.
Wow, that is kind of freaky to realise that there have been so many earthquakes globally over such a short period of time.
The beauty of Australia is that our population is so small, so when we do have natural disasters, the impact is quite minor compared with other nations. We have it all here. Think of any natural occurrence (apart from active volcanoes I guess), and we have it to some degree.
Wow, that is kind of freaky to realise that there have been so many earthquakes globally over such a short period of time. 1 person likes this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
20 Jun 12
hi rawbill well rock and roll as I live in Sou then California so have in my 85 years felt ones f rom 2 to 7 which was the North-ridge LA county earthquake that destroyed freeways and killed a log of people. the house where we lived swayed back and forth, books fell from the library shelves and yes it was scarey. but most are mild
and just move you for awhile then are gone.one was a five and moved my desk c hair with me on it fou r feet back. and books flew off my shelves in my bedroom. this on lasted a whole minute. scary yes.here you really ignore most as they do no damage but the big ones you
take necessary steps.
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
20 Jun 12
Hi Hatley. Yes you Californians are well known for your dealings with earthquakes. Thankfully most like you say are small and you do not have to worry too much. For someone like me though who has never felt one, I would probably freak out a bit I think. I have seen some video footage of this one and people seem quite confused about what is going on as they are not used to feeling them.
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
24 Jun 12
Wow is right! I have never been in an earthquake but my grandmother that lived in California apparently experienced them all the time. Not to the magnitude that you are talking about, but tremors. There have been some pretty bad ones out there and I remember it being one of my fears when I went to visit her.
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
5 Jul 12
There have certainly been some huge quakes in California over the years. They are quite used to the small tremors there, but are waiting nervously for the day when a big one will hit once more. Very scary stuff!
@himadrisaha (140)
• Taiwan
20 Jun 12
Earthquake is a very common natural phenomena in this part of world where i live.People are not scared at all where we live with the earthquake.But we have already got one Typhoon warning and we are waiting when it will hit.We are not sure when it will hit.May be it will change it direction.I am not sure.But it is quite uneasy when you get some waning and it does not happens.
1 person likes this
@echoforever (5180)
• United States
22 Jun 12
Lately I have read and heard of many big earthquakes like this. It is a little scary. I have never been in one nor felt one and I am glad. It must be hard to hear about it because of it is where you used to live. I hope no one was injured that you know. Well the bible does say that this sort of thing will be increased, and it certainly has been. 100 Years is a long time since such a big quake but I have a feeling it will be more frequent now. These quakes have been in odd places here in the states that normally do not have quakes.
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
5 Jul 12
No one that I know had any damage at all. In fact no one at all was injured too badly in the quake luckily. 
I think that these quakes are becoming more common due to all of the mining activity that goes on these days. If you really think about it, all that digging must do something to destabilise the earth's surface.
I think that these quakes are becoming more common due to all of the mining activity that goes on these days. If you really think about it, all that digging must do something to destabilise the earth's surface. 
@pergammano (7682)
• Canada
20 Jun 12
SHAKE...rattle and roll! Just part of my life-style..living smack-dab in the middle of the San Andreas fault..unlovingly known as the "ring of Fire!"
More times than I can count, I have found myself rudely awakened by landing on the floor..kaboom! Magnitude 5.0's and plus, pretty common! Having a WELL-STOCKED survival kit...also common, along with a survival plan, for over a week! Living on a somewhat scarcely populated Island means that in the "game plan" our rescue would be far down the totem pole! Choose to live here--self-reliance has to be a big priority! And also, being an Island..if the earthquake doesn't mess us up..the Tsunami, sure will! The most direct path, to the highest ground is well-mapped out!
Maybe it's just my mind playing tricks on me..but I find the best predictors of this phenomena..are the animals, both wild and domestic, and I am convinced they feel the extra electricity from the plates rubbing!
For those NOT having this experience, as a commonality...it is VERY unnerving, and so I am sorry for both you, and your family. It is a time when calmer heads need to prevail!
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
21 Jun 12
Yes that Pacific Ring of Fire is a pretty wild area. There are minor earthquakes almost daily somewhere around it. I saw plenty of those signs along the California coast too, mapping out the most direct route to higher ground in case of tsunami. I guess living in that region, you are always prepared to some extent just in case.
I am sure that animals know too. Well mostly wild ones anyway, I think many domesticated pets are just as out of tune with nature as we humans are. I just saw a video of a cat during this recent one. It seemed just as surprised as everyone else! It looked around for a bit, then went back to licking itself until the tremors gradually got bigger.
Luckily no one was seriously injured in this quake and the only damage to properties was minor. They have had well over 60 aftershocks though which must be freaking them out a bit I imagine. Although they are probably used to them now.
I am sure that animals know too. Well mostly wild ones anyway, I think many domesticated pets are just as out of tune with nature as we humans are. I just saw a video of a cat during this recent one. It seemed just as surprised as everyone else! It looked around for a bit, then went back to licking itself until the tremors gradually got bigger.
Luckily no one was seriously injured in this quake and the only damage to properties was minor. They have had well over 60 aftershocks though which must be freaking them out a bit I imagine. Although they are probably used to them now.