Magnitude 4.8 Earthquake Shakes Victoria and Melbourne

Key Points

• A magnitude 4.8 earthquake struck near Leongatha in South Gippsland at about 2.01am on Saturday, October 3, 2026.
• Geoscience Australia placed the earthquake at a depth of approximately 10 kilometres and about 130 kilometres south-east of Melbourne.
• Tremors were widely felt across Melbourne and regional Victoria, with thousands of residents submitting felt reports.
• Residents in Narre Warren, Garfield, Preston, Heidelberg Heights, Venus Bay and other areas reported shaking and being woken from sleep.
• Victoria’s State Emergency Service reminded residents to drop, cover and hold during an earthquake.
• The Bureau of Meteorology said there was no tsunami threat associated with the earthquake.
• A magnitude 3.1 aftershock occurred about 55 minutes after the main earthquake.
• A separate magnitude 3.3 earthquake had been recorded near Yarram, about 80 kilometres east of Leongatha, on Thursday morning.
• University of Melbourne earthquake scientist Mark Quigley said aftershocks could continue to be felt in the region for weeks.
• The earthquake was the largest recorded in Victoria since the magnitude 5.0 event on the Great Ocean Road in 2023.
• South Gippsland is regarded as one of Australia’s more seismically active areas.
• Geological evidence indicates that much larger earthquakes have occurred in Gippsland in the past, including events above magnitude 6 and potentially around magnitude 7.

Australian News Today (ANT) October 3, 2026 – A magnitude 4.8 earthquake struck near Leongatha in Victoria early Saturday morning, sending tremors across South Gippsland and Melbourne and waking residents across a broad area. Geoscience Australia recorded the earthquake at approximately 2.01am at a depth of about 10 kilometres, with thousands of people reporting that they felt the shaking. The Bureau of Meteorology confirmed there was no tsunami threat, while Victoria’s State Emergency Service urged residents to follow established earthquake safety procedures.

What happened when the magnitude 4.8 earthquake struck Victoria?

The earthquake occurred shortly after 2am local time on Saturday, October 3, with Geoscience Australia initially recording the event at magnitude 4.8 near Leongatha in South Gippsland.

According to reporting by Martin Farrer of The Guardian, the epicentre was approximately 130 kilometres south-east of Melbourne and the earthquake occurred around 10 kilometres beneath the Earth’s surface. Geoscience Australia received thousands of reports from residents who experienced the tremors.

The location placed the earthquake within a part of Victoria known for recurring seismic activity. The shaking was sufficiently widespread to be noticed well beyond the immediate area surrounding Leongatha.

Reports were received from parts of Melbourne and regional Victoria, demonstrating the extent to which the seismic waves travelled from South Gippsland.

The earthquake was also significant because it was the largest recorded in Victoria since the magnitude 5.0 earthquake along the Great Ocean Road in 2023.

Where was the earthquake felt across Melbourne and Victoria?

Residents across a number of Melbourne suburbs reported feeling the earthquake during the early hours of Saturday.

Among the locations mentioned in reports were Narre Warren, Preston and Heidelberg Heights. Reports also came from Garfield, Venus Bay and other parts of the metropolitan and regional areas.

In Narre Warren, Brian Morley said in a post shared by Victoria’s State Emergency Service that he had felt the earthquake and that it woke him. Theresa Stevens, posting from Garfield, reported that the shaking affected her house.

The range of reports illustrated that the earthquake was not confined to communities close to the epicentre.

A separate report by Matthew Giannelis in The Werribee News said residents in Werribee also reported feeling the earthquake. The report described shaking being noticed in Melbourne’s west, more than 100 kilometres from the earthquake’s source, and said Geoscience Australia had received almost 15,000 felt reports within roughly an hour of the event.

The number of reports provides an indication of the geographical reach of the tremor, although felt-report totals can continue changing as residents submit observations after an earthquake.

What did Geoscience Australia record about the earthquake?

Geoscience Australia recorded the earthquake at approximately 2.01am, with the initial magnitude assessed at 4.8.

The organisation’s earthquake monitoring system allows residents to submit reports describing what they experienced. These reports help authorities and scientists assess the area over which an earthquake was felt.

The earthquake was estimated to have occurred approximately 10 kilometres below the surface. Its relatively shallow depth contributed to the shaking being noticed across a wide area.

The epicentre was near Leongatha in South Gippsland, around 130 kilometres south-east of Melbourne.

The event was subsequently followed by additional seismic activity in the region, including a magnitude 3.1 aftershock less than an hour after the main earthquake.

What aftershocks followed the main earthquake?

A magnitude 3.1 aftershock was recorded approximately 55 minutes after the magnitude 4.8 earthquake.

The aftershock added to the seismic activity already observed in the area during the week. A magnitude 3.3 earthquake had also been recorded near Yarram on Thursday morning, approximately 80 kilometres east of Leongatha.

Earthquake scientists said further aftershocks were possible.

Mark Quigley, an associate professor of earthquake science at the University of Melbourne, told the ABC that South Gippsland is one of the more seismically active parts of Australia.

As reported by Martin Farrer of The Guardian, Quigley said the region commonly experiences seismic activity and that aftershocks would be expected following an earthquake of this magnitude.

The timing and size of aftershocks can vary, meaning the presence of one aftershock does not by itself establish how many further earthquakes will occur.

What caused the earthquake near Leongatha?

Professor Quigley explained that the earthquake resulted from movement within a section of rock approximately two kilometres by three kilometres in size.

According to his explanation reported by The Guardian, the rock was located roughly 10 kilometres beneath the surface and moved rapidly by between five and 10 centimetres. That movement released seismic energy, producing the earthquake felt across the region.

The explanation describes the physical process behind the event rather than suggesting that an external human activity caused the earthquake.

Earthquakes occur when stress accumulated within the Earth’s crust is released through sudden movement along or within geological structures. The resulting energy travels through the ground as seismic waves.

The depth and location of the movement are important factors in determining how an earthquake is experienced at the surface.

Could more aftershocks be felt in South Gippsland?

Scientists expect additional seismic activity to remain possible following the magnitude 4.8 earthquake.

Quigley told the ABC that aftershocks could be felt for weeks in the region. He said South Gippsland is already recognised as an area where seismic activity is relatively common.

The presence of an aftershock shortly after the main earthquake is consistent with the expected sequence following a seismic event of this size.

However, the possibility of additional aftershocks does not establish that a larger earthquake will follow. Earthquake sequences can vary considerably, and the timing and strength of subsequent events cannot be determined solely from the initial earthquake.

The Werribee News also reported comments from Seismology Research Centre chief scientist Adam Pascale, who said dozens of aftershocks had already been detected and that the sequence was unlikely to end immediately.

What did Victoria’s State Emergency Service advise residents to do?

Victoria’s State Emergency Service used the earthquake as a reminder for residents to remember standard earthquake safety procedures.

The recommended response is to drop to the ground, take cover beneath sturdy furniture, protect the head and neck, and hold on until the shaking stops.

The advice is designed to reduce the risk of injury from falling objects, broken materials and other hazards that can occur during ground movement.

For residents who experience another earthquake, emergency authorities advise following established safety procedures rather than attempting to move unnecessarily while the shaking is occurring.

The State Emergency Service’s reminder was issued as residents across Victoria were reporting that the early-morning earthquake had disturbed them.

Was there a tsunami threat from the earthquake?

The Bureau of Meteorology said there was no tsunami threat associated with the earthquake.

That assessment was important because earthquakes can, under certain circumstances, generate tsunami waves when they occur beneath or close to bodies of water and produce sufficient movement of the seafloor.

In this case, the Bureau confirmed that the Victoria earthquake did not present such a threat.

The absence of a tsunami threat means coastal communities did not face a tsunami emergency resulting from this particular earthquake.

How does the earthquake compare with previous Victorian earthquakes?

Saturday’s magnitude 4.8 earthquake was the largest earthquake recorded in Victoria since a magnitude 5.0 event on the Great Ocean Road in 2023.

Victoria also experienced a magnitude 5.9 earthquake near Mansfield in the state’s north-east in 2021.

The 2021 earthquake was the most recent Victorian earthquake associated with property damage, with tremors reported hundreds of kilometres from the epicentre.

The comparison with previous events places the latest earthquake within the broader seismic history of Victoria rather than treating it as an isolated occurrence.

The 4.8 event was smaller than both the 2021 magnitude 5.9 earthquake and the 2023 magnitude 5.0 earthquake, but it was nevertheless notable because of the extent to which residents across Melbourne and surrounding areas reported feeling it.

Why is South Gippsland considered seismically active?

South Gippsland is considered one of the more seismically active parts of Australia.

Quigley told the ABC that seismicity is common in the region and that aftershocks following an earthquake of this magnitude would be expected.

The region’s earthquake history extends beyond recent events. According to Quigley, geological records show that Gippsland has experienced considerably larger earthquakes in the past.

As reported by The Guardian, he said geological evidence indicates that earthquakes larger than magnitude 6, and potentially events approaching magnitude 7, have occurred in Gippsland historically.

Such historical evidence provides context for why scientists continue to monitor seismic activity in the region.

It does not, however, establish that a similarly large earthquake will occur following Saturday’s event.

Are earthquakes becoming more frequent in Victoria?

Quigley said earthquakes were not necessarily being recorded more frequently, despite a perception that their occurrence has increased in recent years.

As reported by The Guardian, the University of Melbourne earthquake scientist said the apparent increase did not mean that the underlying frequency of earthquakes was necessarily rising.

Earthquake reporting has become increasingly visible because monitoring systems, digital communication and public reporting allow seismic events to be identified and discussed rapidly.

The distinction between a perceived increase and a measured change in earthquake frequency is important when assessing seismic activity over time.

What did the earthquake scientist say residents should consider?

Quigley said the latest earthquake could provide an opportunity for people living in the region to consider whether objects inside their homes could become hazards during a stronger earthquake.

His comments focused on household preparedness rather than suggesting that the latest earthquake itself represented an immediate cause for panic.

Items that are unsecured can fall or move during ground shaking, potentially causing injuries or obstructing exits.

The earthquake therefore renewed attention on basic household preparedness in an area where seismic activity is known to occur.

Quigley also pointed to geological evidence of much stronger earthquakes in Gippsland, explaining that larger historical events demonstrate that the region has experienced significant seismic movement in the past.

What is the wider significance of the latest earthquake for Victoria?

The earthquake provides another recorded example of seismic activity in South Gippsland and demonstrates that tremors originating in the region can be felt across a substantial part of Victoria.

The event also generated a large number of public reports, allowing researchers and monitoring authorities to gather information about the geographical distribution and intensity of the shaking.

There were no reports in the sources reviewed of a tsunami threat, while emergency authorities concentrated on public safety guidance.

The combination of the magnitude 4.8 main event and subsequent magnitude 3.1 aftershock means seismic monitoring is likely to remain important as scientists observe the sequence.

At the same time, the earthquake should be considered within the established seismic history of Victoria, including the 2021 Mansfield earthquake and the 2023 Great Ocean Road event.

What is the background to seismic activity in South Gippsland?

South Gippsland has a history of earthquake activity, making the Leongatha-area earthquake part of a longer pattern of seismic events in the region.

The most recent major Victorian earthquakes cited in the reporting include the magnitude 5.9 Mansfield earthquake in 2021 and the magnitude 5.0 Great Ocean Road earthquake in 2023.

The 2021 event was the last Victorian earthquake reported to have caused property damage.

The latest magnitude 4.8 earthquake was recorded at a relatively shallow depth of approximately 10 kilometres and was widely felt across Melbourne and surrounding communities.

Historical geological evidence cited by Professor Mark Quigley indicates that Gippsland has experienced earthquakes considerably larger than recent events. The historical record therefore remains relevant to understanding the region’s long-term seismic environment, while not providing a timetable for future earthquakes.

How could the latest earthquake affect residents and local communities?

For residents across South Gippsland and Melbourne, the immediate effect of the earthquake was widespread shaking and disruption during the early hours of Saturday morning.

The reported aftershock means residents may remain alert to further tremors, while scientists continue monitoring the area.

For households, the main practical implication highlighted by emergency authorities and earthquake scientists is the importance of understanding earthquake safety procedures and identifying objects that could fall during stronger shaking.

The event may also contribute additional scientific data about seismic activity in South Gippsland because felt reports and instrumental measurements provide researchers with information about how seismic energy travelled across the region.

No tsunami threat was associated with the earthquake, according to the Bureau of Meteorology, and the available reporting does not establish widespread structural damage from the latest event.

What could happen next after the magnitude 4.8 earthquake?

Further aftershocks remain possible, with Professor Quigley saying they could be felt for weeks. The recorded magnitude 3.1 aftershock less than an hour after the main earthquake demonstrates that the seismic sequence continued after the initial event.

The available scientific comments do not provide a specific forecast of the number, timing or magnitude of future earthquakes. Consequently, the immediate outlook is best understood in terms of continued monitoring and preparedness rather than a prediction of a particular future event.

For residents, the development means that earthquake safety guidance remains relevant, particularly in South Gippsland and other areas where seismic activity is relatively common.

For local authorities and researchers, the sequence provides an opportunity to continue collecting seismic data and assessing the behaviour of the region following a magnitude 4.8 earthquake.

The principal development remains the earthquake itself: a magnitude 4.8 event near Leongatha that was widely felt across Victoria, followed by a magnitude 3.1 aftershock and further monitoring of seismic activity in South Gippsland.