Small Magnitude 2.9 Earthquake Reported Near Northam, Western Australia
- A seismic event measuring magnitude 2.9 occurred 41 kilometers east of Northam, Western Australia, on Tuesday, October 13, 2026.
- The epicenter of the earthquake was situated approximately 13.6 kilometers northeast of Cunderdin, a town with a population of about 890.
- Other locations identified where the shaking reached a "very weak" intensity include Warding East, Meckering, Grass Valley, Balkuling, Southern Brook, Watercarrin, Tammin, York, East Beverley, Northam, Gwambygine, and...
A seismic event measuring magnitude 2.9 occurred 41 kilometers east of Northam, Western Australia, on Tuesday, October 13, 2026. The tremor was first recorded at 23:23 UTC.
Potential impact on nearby settlements
The epicenter of the earthquake was situated approximately 13.6 kilometers northeast of Cunderdin, a town with a population of about 890. While the shaking was categorized as “very weak” on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale, residents in several surrounding communities may have felt minor vibrations. According to seismic modeling, the tremor was likely perceptible to individuals in Cunderdin, as well as smaller localities including Doodenanning, Youndegin, and Greenwoods Valley.
Other locations identified where the shaking reached a “very weak” intensity include Warding East, Meckering, Grass Valley, Balkuling, Southern Brook, Watercarrin, Tammin, York, East Beverley, Northam, Gwambygine, and Dulbelling. Residents in Quairading, Morbinning, North Tammin, Beverley, Goomalling, Dowerin, Kellerberrin, Woottating, and Bakers Hill likely did not feel the event.
Seismic history of the Northam region
The region surrounding Northam and Cunderdin maintains a moderate level of seismic activity. Historical data indicates that while major earthquakes are infrequent, they do occur; records dating back to 1900 show at least two events of magnitude 6.0 or higher. The most significant earthquake recorded in this vicinity in the last century was a magnitude 6.5 event on October 14, 1968, which struck at 10:58 local time.
The October 13 tremor followed a similar magnitude 2.9 event that took place approximately 20 hours earlier, just 0.9 kilometers north of the latest epicenter. In the preceding year, the area experienced a magnitude 4.7 earthquake on July 30, 2025, near Trayning, located 71 kilometers northeast of the current epicenter and 63 kilometers west of Merredin. That event remains the strongest in the region over the last decade. Statistics from the past 56 years suggest an average of 73 earthquakes of magnitude 1.0 or higher occur annually within a 100-kilometer radius of this location, with events of magnitude 2.0 or higher occurring approximately 5.5 times per month.
Energy release and detection
The energy released by the magnitude 2.9 tremor is estimated at 1.4 x 10^9 joules, or approximately 392 kilowatt-hours, which is equivalent to about 0.338 tons of TNT. The event was first identified by a RaspberryShake sensor within two minutes of the initial movement.