M5.6 earthquake, largest onshore in Queensland in 50 years, strikes near Kilkivan, Australia

The earthquake’s epicenter was located about 80 km (50 miles) west of Noosa and 250 km (155 miles) north of Brisbane, with shaking reported across a wide area of south-east Queensland.

Geoscience Australia (GA) described the event as the most significant on-shore seismic event in the state in the past 50 years.

More than 12 500 felt reports were submitted to GA within hours, with other sources noting up to 16 000 reports from communities as far north as Cairns and as far south as Wollongong. Tremors were widely felt in Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Bundaberg, and surrounding towns.

The Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre issued a statement confirming there was no tsunami threat associated with the earthquake.

No major injuries or significant structural damage were reported, although minor cracking, fallen bricks, and rattled windows were noted in towns close to the epicenter, including Murgon and Kingaroy.

The earthquake caused temporary power outages affecting approximately 11 000 households, particularly in the Fraser Coast and Wide Bay regions.

Energex reported that power was largely restored within hours. Queensland Rail introduced precautionary speed restrictions, resulting in delays of about 15 minutes while track inspections were conducted.

According to GA, the shallow depth of 10 km (6 miles) contributed to the wide area of felt impact.

Seismologists noted that the quake may have originated along the Perry Fault, linked to stress accumulation from the slow compression of the Indian-Australian plate. Aftershocks are expected over the coming days and weeks, though they are likely to be of lower magnitude.

While offshore events have exceeded this magnitude in the past decade, including the 2016 M5.8 earthquake near Bowen, intraplate quakes of this strength are rare in Queensland, which is considered one of Australia’s least seismically active states.

Reet Kaur

I’m a science journalist and researcher at The Watchers, contributing to the Epicenter edition, where I cover peer-reviewed scientific research and emerging discoveries across Earth and space sciences. With a background in astronomy and a passion for environmental science, I’ve worked in shark and coral conservation in Fiji, conducting reef and shark-behavior research, contributing to mangrove restoration, and earning PADI Open Water and Coral Reef Certifications. I bring a blend of scientific rigor and storytelling to illuminate the discoveries shaping our planet and beyond.

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