A powerful earthquake struck Queensland on Saturday, rattling thousands of residents.
The 5.6 magnitude quake originated in the rural gold rush town of Kilkivan, in the Gympie Region, just over an hour northwest of Noosa in the state’s southeast.
According to Geoscience Australia, the tremor occurred at a depth of 2 km around 9:50 a.m., with more than 2,800 people reporting being shaken by the quake.
Queensland Rail has begun assessing its network following the seismic activity and warned commuters of delays of up to 30 minutes.
On the Sunshine Coast, about 90 minutes from the epicentre, resident Jorja McDonnell described the experience as “surreal.”
“The house shook. At first, I thought it might have been the washing machine or my dad downstairs working on his cars,” she told media.
Although a 5.6 magnitude earthquake has the potential to cause moderate damage, McDonnell confirmed her home was unaffected.
She also received a message from her aunt in Gympie, where the tremor was stronger, reporting no damage there either.
Residents quickly turned to social media to share their experiences.
One user on X said, “My heart is still racing and I’m shaking.”
Another wrote on Reddit, “My whole house was wobbling,” while one person added, “Woke up to my bed shaking like crazy.”
