Magnitude 4.9 earthquake strikes off the coast of South Australia

A magnitude 4.9 earthquake struck the Southern Ocean off the coast of South Australia on Tuesday morning, causing widespread shaking across the region. The tremor occurred at approximately 6:18 am local time at a depth of 10 kilometres, with the epicentre located roughly 100km offshore between Kangaroo Island and the mainland, specifically south of Victor Harbor.

Geoscience Australia recorded hundreds of felt reports, with some data indicating over 740 residents reported hearing or feeling the movement. The earthquake was felt significantly in Adelaide, as well as in Kapunda, Beachport, Murray Bridge, and Kangaroo Island, with monitoring stations also detecting the event in Victoria and Tasmania.

While residents reported shaking strong enough to move furniture and spill liquids, there is currently no risk of a tsunami. Senior seismologist Jonathan Bathgate described the event as a “significant earthquake” and noted that while aftershocks are expected, they are typically smaller and less frequent over time. However, he cautioned that larger earthquakes can occasionally occur within an aftershock sequence.