Tremors from earthquake east of Narrogin felt in Harvey, Perth and Arthur River

The tremors of an earthquake that rocked the Wheatbelt are believed to have made their way to Harvey, with several residents reporting feeling movement within minutes of the seismic event. WA’s southern Wheatbelt was rattled on Wednesday night with the United States Geological Survey recording a 4.2 magnitude earthquake about 40km east of Narrogin at 7.35pm. A Harvey resident took to Facebook at 7.44pm that night and stated the magnitude of the town’s quake was “probably about a 2.5”, according to their seismometer. Harvey local Sharon Fimmano first noticed the natural phenomena about 7.45pm when she heard a crystal which was hanging by her window tapping against the glass. “And then I stopped and thought about what was causing that, then I heard the Earth rumble. “There were a few people that didn’t feel anything and there were a few people that did. “Some people in Benger, and Australind, and all sorts of people, did feel it . . . it was 15 or 20 seconds.” The earthquake was recorded 10km below ground with weak aftershocks being detected close to Perth, while Geoscience Australia recorded a 4.1 magnitude tremor in Arthur River — about 80km south east. Earthquakes happen when cracks in the earth’s surface, called fault lines, move and break under stress. Vibrations from earthquakes can ripple out and be felt hundreds of kilometres away from where they begin, according to DFES. It was not clear if any buildings were damaged but nearly 50 people reported feeling the earthquake’s effect to Geoscience Australia. The earthquake comes two months after Port Hedland was shaken by a 5.9 magnitude quake.