About earthquakes

Eart hquakes are unpredictable and can occur at any

t ime. At least one eart hquake occurs somewhere in
t he world each day. Some are slight t remors t hat
can hardly be felt , while ot hers are much st ronger.

Eart hquakes

tectonic plates are always moving and floating on molten

rock. When stress builds up in these plates and is suddenly released, it creates seismic waves, which
result in an earthquake. When earthquakes occur, they make a loud noise like a train, and the ground
and buildings shake and sway. They can last from a few seconds to a few minutes. Hours or even
days later, you may still feel the earth move. This movement is called after-shocks, which are less
severe than the initial earthquake.

Measuring eart hquakes

The magnitude of an earthquake is measured and recorded by a device called a seismograph, which
uses the Richter scale.

The Richter scale has no upper limit to being able to record the magnitude of an earthquake. The
most severe earthquakes so far, have not exceeded 9.5 on the Richter scale. The Richter Scale uses
complex mathematics to calculate the magnitude of an earthquake. For instance, a magnitude 7.0
earthquake creates 10 times the ground motion of a magnitude 6.0 earthquake and the tot al energy
release is about 30 times greater. This in turn is 30 times greater than a 5.0 and so on.

Another scale used to describe earthquakes is the Modified Mercalli (MM). It rates the level of
intensity, shaking felt and damage caused, and uses roman numerals. On this scale, I is a barely
detectable tremor, and XII is catastrophic damage.
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Did you know?

• The Australian Geological Survey Organisation in Canberra estimates that, on average, the
Australian region experiences an earthquake of at least Richter scale magnitude 5.5, or larger,
every 13-15 months.
• Ninety per cent of all earthquakes in the world take place at tectonic plate boundaries and are
the result of the constant movement of the plates against each other.
• The oldest parts of Australia, the western and central areas, are most seismically active.
• The 1989 Newcastle Earthquake has been Australia's most damaging earthquake with 13
fatalities and insured damage of $1124 million.

The deadliest eart hquake ever recorded was in China in

1556. During t his t ime many people lived in t he mount ains
in caverns and t he quake result ed in over 800,000 deat hs.

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Earthquakes:
Be prepared

You can survive an eart hquake and minimise

damage by being aware of, and prepared for,
pot ent ial hazards.
An earthquake will be over before you can do much about it.

Most people are killed or injured when they attempt to move during the earthquake and are struck by
falling or flying objects.

Your chances of avoiding serious injury are high if you remain calm and take cover as recommended
below. By following this advice and being well-prepared, you could be a potential resource for your
community.

Are you at risk?

• Check with your State and Territory Emergency Service (SES) to find out whether tremors or
earthquakes have occurred in your area and what damage resulted.
• Ask your SES if they have a pamphlet or poster showing Australia's earthquake hazard zones.
• Even if you're in a slight risk zone, ask your council how to make your house safer.
• Check that your insurance covers earthquake damage.

Planning f or t he disast er:

There are several steps you need to take when planning for the possibility of an earthquake.

Create a family emergency plan that includes:

• A list of safe places in the house during an earthquake and after-shocks.

• Where to meet if you are separated.

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 • A list of all the emergency phone numbers you will need, making sure everyone knows where
this is displayed (e.g. on the fridge). You should also have a copy of emergency phone
numbers in your Emergency Survival Kit.

Research your local emergency services websit es t o locat e

an appropriat e Emergency Survival Kit .

Look f or early warning signs during t he eart hquake

• Unusual animal behaviour watch for frightened or confused pets running around, or a bird-
call not usually heard at night.
• Ground-water levels - watch for sudden changes of water level in wells or artesian bores.

If you are indoors

• Stay there. There could be falling debris outside.
• Take cover under an internal door frame, sturdy table, bench or bed.
• Keep away from windows, mirrors, chimneys, overhead fittings and tall furniture.
• In high-rise buildings, get under a desk near a pillar or internal wall.
• Do not use elevators.
• In crowded areas, do not rush for doors. Stay clear of roof and wall fittings.
• Listen to the radio for warnings before moving.

If you are out side

• Keep well clear of buildings, walls, power lines and trees.
• Shelter from falling debris under strong archways or doorways of buildings.
• Don't stand under awnings or parapets/ walls as they may collapse.
• If you are in a vehicle, stop in the open until shaking stops. Beware of fallen power lines and
damage to roads, overpasses or bridges.
• Listen to the radio for warnings before moving.

Af t er t he eart hquake
Remember that there could be after-shocks, and even though they may not be as severe, it is
important that you follow the same emergency survival tips as during an earthquake.

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• Check for injuries and apply first aid.
• Do not move the seriously injured unless they are in danger.
• To avoid congestions, do not use the telephone unless there is a serious injury or fire.
• Turn off the electricity, gas and water. Check for gas and fuel leaks before lighting matches.
• Check for water or sewerage leaks and broken electrical wiring. Do not touch any wiring.
• Check for cracks and damage, including the roof, chimneys and foundations.
• Be prepared for after-shocks.
• Evacuate the house if it is badly damaged.
• Do not waste food and water as supplies may be interrupted. Collect emergency water from
water heaters, ice cubes, toilet tanks and canned foods.
• Listen to the local radio, heed warnings and follow advice on damage and service disruptions.
• Avoid travelling unless for emergency (keep the streets clear for emergency vehicles).
• Do not go sight-seeing or enter damaged buildings. Stay calm and help others if possible.

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 STUDENT ASSIGNMENT

Investigating
earthquakes
Student name: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Date / /

At 10.27 am on 28 December 1989, Newcast le

(Aust ralia's sixt h largest cit y at t he t ime) was
devast at ed by an eart hquake measuring 5.6 on t he
Richt er scale.
It was the first earthquake in Australia that resulted in death and destruction - 13 people died, more
than 160 people sustained injuries and over 10,000 buildings in Newcastle were damaged.

To find out more about earthquakes and the Newcastle example, use the following sites, and others

facilities to find the information).

• University of Queensland (UQ) www.uq.edu.au

• USGS (United States Geological Survey) website www.earthquake.usgs.gov
• City of Newcastle website www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au

All about eart hquakes

What is an epicentre?

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What are the main causes of earthquakes?

What tool is used to measure earthquakes?

How does the measurement scale work?

Newcast le eart hquake

Where was the epicentre of the Newcastle earthquake?

How far away from the epicentre was the Newcastle earthquake felt?

What was the cause of the Newcastle earthquake?

How did the emergency services react to the earthquake?

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Real life
earthquake stories

European set t lement , occurred at Port Jackson,

New Sout h Wales, in June 1788 and last ed for about
t hree seconds.
Other earthquakes recorded in early Australian history were:

• Hobart in 1827
• South Australia in 1837
• Melbourne in 1841
• Perth in 1849.

The first recorded deaths in Australia caused by earthquakes occurred in 1902, at Warooka, South
Australia. Two people died after a magnitude 6.0 earthquake.

In 1917, one miner died and five were injured in an underground rock fall triggered by an earthquake in
Kalgoorlie, Western Australia.

In the last 80 years, there have been 17 earthquakes in Australia registering 6.0 or more on the
Richter scale. This is a rate of about one earthquake every five years, compared to the world average
of about 140 per year.

Some larger Australian earthquakes have caused significant damage, but more damaging
earthquakes have occurred in other parts of the world. Until the December 1989 earthquake in
Newcastle, NSW, damage caused by earthquakes in Australia was comparatively low.

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Quakes t hat shook t he nat ion

Here is some informat ion about major Aust ralian

eart hquakes:

Ellalong, New Sout h Wales

🕐 DATE :
August 1994

This damaging earthquake affected the Ellalong-Cessnock area of the Hunter region in New South
Wales. Measuring 5.4 on the Richter scale, it became our third most damaging earthquake. Several
homes, hotels and other buildings were severely damaged and up to 1000 homes were partly
damaged. Infrastructure, commercial and industrial losses also occurred. Insurance payouts were
$38 million and total damage costs exceeded $150 million (1997 values).

New cast le, New Sout h Wales

🕐 DATE :
December 1989

At 10.27 am, Newcastle (Australia's sixth largest city at the time) was struck by a moderate
earthquake measuring 5.6 on the Richter scale. This earthquake claimed 13 lives, the first
earthquake-related deaths in Australia.

The devastation to buildings and other structures was extensive, which was unusual for a relatively
small magnitude earthquake. This was due mainly to an underlying, thin layer of alluvium, which

directly above the focus of an earthquake) was 15 km west south-west of the city centre, near
Boolaroo.

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 Tennant Creek, Nort hern Territ ory

🕐 DATE :
January 1988

Significant earthquakes of magnitudes 6.3, 6.4 and 6.8 occurred near Tennant Creek in the Northern
Territory. These resulted in large, long ground ruptures and a 35 km fault (up to 2 m displacement)
which warped underground gas pipelines, but caused only minor damage to the hospital and some
homes in the town.

Meckering, West ern Aust ralia

🕐 DATE :
Oct ober 1968

One of the more serious Australian earthquakes occurred at the small town of Meckering, WA.
Residents reported seeing ground waves and experienced difficulty driving when the 6.9 magnitude
earthquake struck. Old buildings collapsed, railway lines buckled, pipelines fractured, and a 37 km fault
scarp (up to 2.5 m high) was caused. Sixteen injuries were reported and the total cost of damage
estimated $50 million.

Adelaide, Sout h Aust ralia

🕐 DATE :
March 1954

On 1 March 1954, an earthquake struck Adelaide, followed by shaking severe enough to crack walls
and loosen plaster and chimneys from many houses. Although minor compared to many international
quakes, the Adelaide earthquake was, at magnitude 5.4, severe enough to cause damage estimated
at $350 million (1997 values). No serious injuries were reported.

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The end of a myt h
Despite Australia's seemingly low-risk situation in the middle of one of Earth's larger tectonic plates,
we have had many earthquakes larger than the one in Newcastle. This map shows that Australia is in
the middle of the Australian-Indian Plate.

The Australian Geological Survey Organisation in Canberra estimates that on average, the Australian
region experiences an earthquake of at least richter scale magnitude 5.5, or larger, every 13-15
months.

Most of these earthquakes have been in low populated areas, so for many years people thought
Australia could not be affected by this natural disaster.

The Newcast le
experience
dispelled t his myt h.

Aust ralian geology

Due to Australia's geological position, we are prone to what seismologists call 'intra-plate'
earthquakes. These are different to the more familiar plate-margin earthquakes, common in areas
such as California, USA, and Japan.

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Related links

Kobe Cit y websit e

http:/ / www.city.kobe.lg.jp/ foreign/ english/ index.html

1988 Armenian eart hquake (BBC News)

http:/ / news.bbc.co.uk/ onthisday/ hi/ dates/ stories/ december/ 10/ newsid_2544000/ 2544077.stm

Recent eart hquakes measured by Geoscience

Aust ralia
http:/ / www.ga.gov.au/ earthquakes/ index.jsp

Lat est eart hquakes in t he world (measured by

USGS)
https:/ / earthquake.usgs.gov/ earthquakes/ index.php

How seismographs work

http:/ / www.iris.edu/ hq/ inclass/ search#

What is an eart hquake?

http:/ / www.ga.gov.au/ scientific-topics/ hazards/ earthquake

How plat e t ect onics work

http:/ / www.extremescience.com/ how-plate-tectonics-works.htm

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 / End.
A u s t r al i an In s t it u t e f o r Di s as t e r Re s i l i e n c e

ADDRESS CONTACT WEBSITE

370 Albert Street, East p : +61 3 9419 2388 www.aidr.org.au

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