1989 Newcastle earthquake
The 1989 Newcastle earthquake was an intraplate earthquake that occurred in Newcastle, New South Wales on Thursday 28 December. The shock measured 5.6 on the Richter magnitude scale and was one of Australia's most serious natural disasters, killing 13 people and injuring more than 160. The damage bill has been estimated at A$4 billion (or $9.5 billion in 2022, adjusted for inflation), including an insured loss of about $1 billion (or $2.4 billion in 2022, adjusted for inflation).
| UTC time | 1989-12-27 23:27 |
|---|---|
| ISC event | 385153 |
| USGS-ANSS | ComCat |
| Local date | 28 December 1989 |
| Local time | 10:27 a.m. AEDT UTC+11:00 |
| Magnitude | 5.6 ML (5.4 mb ) |
| Depth | 11.5 kilometres (7.1 mi) |
| Epicentre | Boolaroo, New South Wales 32.95°S 151.61°E |
| Areas affected | Australia |
| Total damage | A$4 billion ($9.5 billion in 2022, adjusted for inflation) |
| Max. intensity | MMI VIII (Severe) |
| Casualties | 13 dead, 160+ injured |
The effects were felt over an area of around 200,000 square kilometres (77,000 sq mi) in the state of New South Wales, with isolated reports of movement in areas up to 800 kilometres (500 mi) from Newcastle. Damage to buildings and facilities was reported over an area of 9,000 km2 (3,500 sq mi).