Crater Quake? Shallow 5.1M Earthquake Shakes World’s Second Largest Meteorite Crater (Western Australia)

Yes, you read that right, a crater which is the second largest crater on Earth (crater that was created by a crashed meteorite in the past) experienced an earthquake.

The Big Wobble reports:

An earthquake initially measuring greater than magnitude 5 on the Richter scale has been recorded near the famous Wolfe Creek Crater in Western Australia – the second largest meteorite crater in the world.

According to GeoScience Australia, the quake struck in the extremely remote area of the vast state near Sturt Creek, close to Northern Territory border, around 12.21pm AWST (2.21pm AEST). Preliminary information has the tremor measuring in at a strong magnitude 5.1.

This, however, is likely to be either downgraded or upgraded once all data has been analysed. GeoScience Australia estimates that the quake could have felt by people up to 187km away and could have caused damage within a 15km radius.

© Parks and Wildlife Service
Wolfe Creek Crater

The quake, however, is unlikely to have caused any damage or injury, given its extremely remote location.

Gary Walton
The Big Wobble