Newcastle Earthquake

At 10:27 A.M. on Thursday, December 28, 1989 the first fatal earthquake in Australia's history struck the city of Newcastle and the surrounding Hunter Valley region of New South Wales (NSW). The epicentre of the 5.5 Richter magnitude temblor was estimated to be only 5km west of the city center. Combined with the lack of seismic design in the local building stock, the proximity of this earthquake resulted in far greater damage than usual for such a moderate magnitude. The Newcastle Earthquake lasted only five seconds, but killed 12 people, damaged over 3,000 buildings, and resulted in total losses estimated at over (US)$900 million.

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Entertainment

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• newcastle
• earthquake
• Beaumont
• St
• Hamilton
• broadmeadow
• nbn

[J0hnnyH4ck3r]

@Battleneter like you said: to poorly constructed buildings. Us aussies don't think that a earthquake will hit us uyntill it does, and then were still skeptical.

[nzbodybuilder]

@Battleneter - The Richter scale measures the energy released by the quake. Australia wasn't prepared for quakes, so their building codes didn't (and still don't!) require strengthning. The quake was also directly under the city, and only 17 kms deep. If it was 50 kms or 100 kms deep, the damage would have been much less, but the same amount of energy is released.

[Battleneter]

Why on earth did such a tiny 5.6 earthquake cause so much damage. Richter says this "5.0-5.9 Can cause major damage to poorly constructed buildings over small regions. At most slight damage to well-designed buildings.".

[ChatPranks]

i was 2, my dad and i were out shopping he was going to buy me a milky way we were at the check out when it hit, we had to get out of there pretty quick..i left my milky way behind.

[sticklemiss]

Doh I though you meant this was in Newcastle UK!

[tellasmella]

I was 8 in my aunties bedroom at toronto west and she had a massive wardrobe that my other aunty had to catch as it started falling towards the bed where i was sitting the power went out no one knew what the heck was going on it was so scary but my uncle started a fire boiled water over it and had neighbours coming around with their cups for a cuppa to have a chat about what just happened wow what a day... RIP to those who lost their lives what a tragic thing to happen

[princessanna57]

I was 10 months old.... we live on the Central Coast and obviously I don't remember but my parents said picture frames flew off the table and they were grabbing onto the couch or something and I was in my cot and stuff and it was really random obviously

[seaeagles64]

my daughter was born 2 yrs to the Day. I was born and bred in Newy . it was uncertain times . BUt since the Knights have won 2 Premierships, and I hope that the people who died are proud. We will remember then.

[AmbushGamer]

RiP

19 Years Today Newcastle was changed!!

[urameshiyaaa]

7 years old at the time.

My little bro was on the toilet at the time.

My sister was born exactly 1 year later.

Must bring this up at her 18th...