BRISBANE – A 5.6 magnitude earthquake rattled regional Queensland this morning, sending tremors across the southeast and surprising people from the Sunshine Coast to Brisbane. The quake struck at 9:50 AM AEST, with its centre near Kilkivan, which sits west of Gympie and roughly 256 kilometres north of Brisbane, according to Geoscience Australia.

This earthquake is the strongest Queensland has felt in nearly twenty years. It was shallow, only 2 kilometres deep, which made it more noticeable. People as far south as the Gold Coast and as far north as Hervey Bay reported feeling the shake.

Geoscience Australia received over 10,000 reports from people who felt the earthquake, while social media was flooded with stories.

A resident from Kilkivan wrote on Reddit about their whole house shaking. Someone in Kelvin Grove, Brisbane, also posted that their house was shaking with no warning. Over in Maleny, someone described a low rumble before their windows and bed started to rattle.

Former Premier Steven Miles posted online, asking if others felt the earthquake too. People reported similar experiences from places like Boondall, Oxley and even as far away as Macleay Island near Moreton Bay.

Earthquake Aftershocks and Official Response

Geoscience Australia reported six aftershocks between magnitudes 2.5 and 4.0 in the hour and a half after the main event. Seismologist Hugh Glanville said this was a major earthquake for Australia, calling it Queensland’s biggest in two decades. Queensland Police and emergency services are watching the situation and remain ready to respond if needed.

The shallow depth made the shaking stronger, but with a moderate size, these earthquakes usually do little damage. The Bureau of Meteorology confirmed that there’s no risk of a tsunami.

So far, police have not found any major damage or reported any injuries. Early checks of buildings around Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast found no signs of serious damage. Residents are being asked not to enter damaged buildings and to keep roads clear for emergency services.

Queensland’s Earthquake History

Queensland isn’t known for frequent earthquakes like some other parts of Australia, but it’s had a few large ones in the past. The 1918 Gladstone earthquake (magnitude 6.3) is still a big part of local memory. The University of Queensland’s Seismological Observatory points out that the state’s east coast sits in an area with higher earthquake risk. Today’s event is a reminder that the region can still experience sudden seismic changes.

Social media sites like X saw plenty of chatter, with reactions ranging from genuine worry to jokes. One user commented, “Earthquake on the Gold Coast… anyone else feel that? Guess this means house prices just went up again!” Another wrote, “We will rebuild.”

Local officials are encouraging people to stay calm and report any problems to emergency services. Experts at Geoscience Australia’s National Earthquake Alert Centre are still reviewing information and will share updates as they come in.