đź•’ Last updated on August 16, 2025
On Saturday morning, a magnitude-5.6 earthquake that originated inland from Queensland’s Sunshine Coast sent shockwaves through much of the state and even into northern New South Wales.
A sudden tremor surprises Queenslanders
The earthquake hit at 9:49 am, with its epicenter located about 80 kilometers west of Noosa and around 250 kilometers north of Brisbane. It occurred at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers, which made the shaking more noticeable on the surface.
Thousands of people felt the ground moving. Over 12,500 individuals sent “felt reports” to Geoscience Australia, detailing the atypical tremors that took many by surprise. Some residents reported rattling windows, shaking furniture, and a jolting sensation that lasted for several seconds.
Reports came from as far north as Rockhampton and as far south as Glen Innes in New South Wales, showing how widely the tremor was felt. For many in Queensland, it was one of the strongest earthquakes they had ever experienced.
The biggest quake in decades for Queensland
According to experts, this was the largest onshore earthquake in Queensland in more than 50 years. Although earthquakes in Australia are not uncommon, the state of Queensland is usually considered the least seismically active in the country.
The size of the tremor even makes it slightly stronger than the infamous 1989 Newcastle earthquake, which remains Australia’s most well-known quake because of the damage and loss of life it caused. Fortunately, this time the epicenter was far from any major city, reducing the risk of serious damage.
Residents closest to the epicenter described the sensation as “absolutely shaking and jolting.” One family living near Kilkivan said the whole house shook for about seven seconds, though no damage was reported. On the Gold Coast, people felt dizzy or swayed in their chairs, unsure at first if it was an earthquake or just their imagination.
Earthquakes are measured on the magnitude scale, which shows the strength of ground shaking. Events between 5.5 and 6.0, like this one, can cause slight damage to buildings and other structures but are often remembered more for the frightening experience than for destruction.
Australia records around 100 small earthquakes (magnitude 3 or higher) each year, but larger events like this only happen every one to two years. The strongest earthquake ever recorded in the country was a magnitude-6.6 event at Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory in 1988.
Power outages and transport delays follow the quake
The earthquake did not trigger any tsunami warnings, but it did lead to widespread power outages and transport delays.
Energex, Queensland’s electricity distributor, confirmed that more than 11,000 customers across the Fraser Coast, Burrum Heads, and Murgon lost power shortly after the tremor. Crews were sent to inspect the damage, and supply was restored to all affected customers by early afternoon.
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The shaking also prompted safety checks on the rail network. Queensland Rail suspended services on the north coast line to Cairns while engineers assessed the condition of the tracks. Trains across Brisbane city lines were also ordered to run at reduced speeds, causing delays of up to 15 minutes.
People in homes, offices, and schools across the region shared their experiences of the unusual morning jolt. Some described it as a rumble like a heavy truck passing by, while others said the shaking was strong enough to make them fear their walls or ceilings might crack.
Earthquakes happen when blocks of the Earth, called tectonic plates, suddenly move against one another. The point underground where the movement starts is called the hypocenter, while the spot directly above it on the surface is known as the epicenter. When these blocks break, the stored energy is released and travels through the Earth as vibrations, which people feel as shaking.
This magnitude-5.6 event will be remembered across Queensland as a rare and powerful reminder that even in regions with low earthquake activity, the ground can sometimes move in surprising and unsettling ways.