OVERVIEW
In 1989, Australia's most destructive earthquake hit Newcastle with devastating consequences. |
The 1989 Newcastle Earthquake left an indelible scar on Australia which shall never be forgotten throughout the course of history. It occurred in Newcastle, New South Wales on Thursday, 28 December. The shock measured 5.6 on the Richter magnitude scale and was one of Australia's most serious natural disasters, killing 13 people and injuring more than 160. The damage bill has been estimated at AUD $4 billion (including an insured loss of about $1 billion).
The effects were felt over an area of around 200,000 square kilometers (77,000 sq mi) in the state of New South Wales, with isolated reports of movement in areas up to 800 kilometers (500 mi) from Newcastle. Damage to buildings and facilities was reported over an area of 9,000 km2 (3,500 sq mi). The impact of this earthquake affected Sydney socially, environmentally and economically. On the 28th December, 1989, the streets of Newcastle, was filled with pandemonium and chaos. |
How it Occurred?
The Earthquake occurred as the rocks underground suddenly broke along a fault hence causing a sudden release of energy called seismic waves that made the ground shake. (When two blocks of rock or two plates are rubbing against each other.) The epicenter of the New Castle Earthquake was roughly 5.6 and the focus was 2.1. Many Geologists argue that the quake was triggered by changes in tectonic forces caused by 200 years of underground coal mining. “ The Removal of millions of tons of coal from the area caused much of the stress that triggered the Newcastle Earthquake”. This quote from American Geophysical Union in San Francisco, demonstrates that this was partly caused from humans.