North Queensland Earthquake Location
NORTH Queensland was hit by a 5.2 magnitude earthquake yesterday, with reports from across the region of buildings being shaken.
The 5.2 magnitude quake hit about 124km southeast of Townsville, near Ayr and Home Hill, at 3.31pm and the effects were reportedly felt for hundreds of kilometres.
Seismologist Jonathon Bathgate from Geoscience Australia said they got more than 100 public reports within half an hour of the tremor but no damage had been reported.
Home Hill residents reported that their windows and doors shook.
North Queenslanders yesterday described what happened as their homes and businesses were shaken by an earthquake.
Patrons at Townsville's historic Seaview Hotel were startled to see tables shake and bottles on the bar started rattling against each other.
“It was obvious what was happening,” the hotel's venue manager Aaron Tyak said.
“The water bottles on the bar started rattling and staff started wondering what was going on.
“There was no panic, more curiosity, it lasted five or 10 seconds and no one thought they were in any danger.”
He said while the quake had rattled the hotel, which is located on The Strand in Townsville, they hadn't lost so much as a glass.
Plates rattled on shelves at the Horseshoe Bay Cafe in Bowen where patrons stopped and stared at one another in confusion.
Safety checks will be carried out today and residents across the state's north have been warned to be prepared for aftershocks. There were no reports of injuries or damage.
Townsville mayor Les Tyrell was hopeful that would remain the case.
“I've spoken to a lot of people and many people felt it and some didn't,” Mr Tyrell said.
“Our disaster control people have gone out to the area where it struck.
“It's about 50km west of Bowen and it's pretty much cattle country but we just want to make sure everyone is safe.”
Around the same time, a 5.3 aftershock struck in Christchurch, New Zealand, still recovering from the devastating 6.3 quake in February.
Two hours later, a 5.9 aftershock struck Japan, the latest in a string quakes since the 9.0 megaquake hit on March 11.
Michael Palmer
Date: 16/04/2011
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M. Lynch
5 of 5
I was sitting in my office at school, finishing off report cards, when the roof began to thump and shake. Thinking it was kids, mucking around on the holidays, I ran outside and yelled at them to get down. It was only when another teacher came out of a separate building to tell me hers was also shaking, that we realised we had had a tremor!
Halliday
I was reclining on my day bed surfing the Web when the room shook. It was not violent nor worrying. The louvres in some windows rattled. About 10 seconds I 'd guess! I went outside where my wife was mowing the grass. She had felt nothing.There was no damage and nothing fell. At dinner I told my wife it was reported an the radio. Then our nine year old said he felt it in his bedroom and the pile of Lego he was using rattled. None of us were!
KBala
I was watching TV when I felt the couch that I was sitting was shaking a little bit. It was just for 5 secs or so but I initially thought it was just my imagination until I heard on the news about the 5.1 quake.
mitasol
There were 2 tremors, about 5 or 10 seconds apart. A tree fell down in the back yard, probably weakened by Yasi - nothing more that I have seen.
Michael
Lucky it was only a small quake when they increase in size so does the shaking .It goes from a little movement to not even being able to stand to get out .From Christchurch
TG
5 of 5
I know they keep saying no damage was reported. We had damage to our home in Home Hill, with cracks in mortar from floor to ceiling, up to 3 mm wide, and lots of other cracks in mortar, bricks, tiles and concrete.