Australia experiences 100 earthquakes above magnitude 3.0 every year, and Geoscience Australia and the ACT Emergency Services Agency encourage Canberrans to practice earthquake safety as part of Earth Science Week (12-18 October 2025).
The ACT is not typically known for major seismic activity, but Canberra has a higher seismic risk than every capital city other than Darwin.
Significant faults exist in the ACT region, including the Long Plane Fault to the west, the Cotter and the Murrumbidgee faults within the Territory, and the Lake George fault to the east.
A magnitude 5.6 earthquake in Gunning, NSW, in 1934 is a reminder that earthquakes as large as the 1989 Newcastle earthquake can happen in the area.
Given the earthquake risk, ACT Emergency Services Agency Commissioner Wayne Phillips believes the community should know what to do.
“Emergencies can strike without warning, anytime, anywhere and their impact on our community can be profound. That’s why it’s essential for every Canberran to understand what to do before, during, and after an emergency.”
If you feel the ground start to shake, drop to the ground, seek cover under a sturdy table and protect your head and neck, and hold on until the shaking stops.
After you are safe, submit a felt report to the Earthquakes@GA website. The more felt reports, the better our understanding about the earthquake, helping authorities prioritise where they may need to assess damage.
Canberrans can practice the Great ShakeOut, an international earthquake safety drill to teach people how to stay safe during earthquakes.
People can download resources to run a Great ShakeOut drill from the Geoscience Australia website, as well as information on how to stay safe during an earthquake.
“The best science cannot yet predict or control when and how the ground is going to shake in an earthquake but, if prepared, we can limit the impact,” Geoscience Australia seismologist Dr Michelle Salmon said. “The Great ShakeOut is an opportunity to practice what you would do during an earthquake.”
Geoscience Australia’s National Earthquake Alerts Centre operates 24 hours a day to provide rapid alerts of significant earthquakes and tsunami in Australia and overseas.
Geoscience Australia CEO Melissa Harris says knowing where to get trustworthy and reliable information is critical to community confidence during emergencies.
“While they aren’t common, large earthquakes can and do happen in Australia. Geoscience Australia monitors for earthquakes all day and night as the government’s trusted source of Earth science information and advice.
“The more we know about the ground beneath our feet, the better prepared we can be as a community to build resilience and prepare for the earthquake risk across Australia.”
Commissioner Phillips added: “The ACT Emergency Services Agency don’t just respond to emergencies, we prepare our community for emergencies. Earthquakes strike without warning, leaving no time to warn – just react. That’s why our priority is building a resilient community, one that’s ready and capable before an emergency occurs. Empowering people to prepare and act independently ensures they’re not solely reliant on emergency services when seconds matter most.”
