Fed: Small quake in Newcastle

AAP General News (Australia)
08-16-2001
Fed: Small quake in Newcastle

CANBERRA, Aug 16 AAP - A small earthquake hit a suburban part of Newcastle overnight,
the first since the disastrous earthquake of 1989.

Kevin McCue from AGSO-Geoscience Australia said the earthquake measured 1.8 on the
Richter scale and hit the Belmont North area at 12.32am AEST.

It was a shallow earthquake about two kilometres deep, he said.

The earthquake was not large enough to cause any damage, and would have only been felt
in the immediate area of the epicentre.

"One person described it (as) like a truck hitting the side of the house, so they must
have been very close to the epicentre," Mr McCue said.

"It is unusual because this is the first earthquake since the aftershock after the
1989 earthquake."

On December 28, 1989, an earthquake measuring 5.6 on the Richter scale hit Newcastle,
killing 13 people and injuring 160.

The aftershock, which occurred on December 29, measured 2.1 on the Richter scale.

AAP sw/kjp/cjh

KEYWORD: QUAKE NEWCASTLE

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