Researchers say the 2021 Victorian earthquake is caused by a hidden fault in the Earth’s crust

Scientists say the largest earthquake ever recorded in Victoria was caused by a previously unknown fault line deep in the Earth’s crust.

Key points: The 2021 earthquake was more powerful than the 1989 Newcastle earthquake, which killed 13 people. Researchers say they determined the quake was caused by a previously unknown “blind fault”, with no visible presence on the surface. A network of seismic sensors located in schools to enrich their research

The epicenter of the magnitude 5.9 earthquake – which occurred in September 2021 – was near the small town of Woods Point, about 130 kilometers east of Melbourne.

Although it caused only minor damage, the earthquake was larger than the 1989 Newcastle earthquake, which killed 13 people.

The 2021 earthquake caused some damage to buildings in Melbourne, including on the popular shopping street, Chapel Street, when it struck at 9:15 am.

The earthquake was also felt in parts of New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania and the Art Territory.

New research by seismologists at the Australian National University, published in Seismology Research Letters, finds that the quake was caused by a previously unknown “blind fault”, with no visible presence at the surface.

“We are fortunate that the earthquake did not occur near a populated area,” said lead researcher Sima Mousavi.

Dr Sima Mousavi of the Australian National University says data recorded in schools has informed the research. (Jamie Kidston/ANU)

The researchers were able to determine the cause of the earthquake using a network of seismic sensors located in schools.

Dr. Mousavi said that teachers from the schools contacted the researchers to say they saw “large amplitude vibrations” on the sensor screens.

Blind faults can be particularly dangerous because their existence can be unknown until an earthquake triggers their instability.

“Blind faults can pose a great threat because they can generate large earthquakes but they are hidden from us. This can make it difficult to identify earthquake-risk areas, which can pose a danger to communities living nearby,” said Dr. Mousavi.

“While identifying and studying blind faults may be more challenging than identifying and studying faults with surface exposure, it is important to understand their location, behavior and potential hazards in order to properly assess earthquake risk and take appropriate measures to protect communities and infrastructure.”

Damage from the 2021 earthquake in Melbourne’s Chapel Street shopping street (AAP: James Ross)

Adam Pascal, senior scientist at the Melbourne-based Center for Seismology Research, said the ANU study was interesting because it had identified a previously unknown fault.

“It shows that there are a lot of potential areas for other events,” Pascal said.

He pointed out that without signs of previous seismic activity on the surface, the only way to identify earthquake-prone areas is by monitoring the activity using sensors.

Pascal said there have been more than 1,000 aftershocks since the 2021 earthquake, and that the Sudanese Red Crescent is still registering one or two per week.

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