Who was affected in the 2011 Queensland earthquake?

Date: February 25, 2011

Time: 1:52 pm AEDT

Magnitude: 6.5 moment magnitude

Epicentre: Near the towns of Collinsville and Moranbah, Queensland, Australia

Death: None reported

Injuries: 209 people with minor injuries

Cost of damage: $12 billion

The 2011 Queensland earthquake was a shallow intraplate earthquake that occurred in Queensland, Australia. It was the strongest earthquake to hit the state since the 1918 Innisfail earthquake. The earthquake caused widespread damage to buildings, infrastructure, and mining operations in the Bowen Basin region.

Extent of damage

The earthquake caused significant structural damage to buildings, bridges, and roads in the Bowen Basin region. The most affected towns included Collinsville, Moranbah, Dysart, and Clermont. In Collinsville, approximately 75% of the town's buildings were damaged, including the hospital and the school. In Moranbah, several large coal mines were damaged, and mining operations were suspended.

The earthquake also caused widespread power outages and water shortages. Approximately 10,000 people in the Bowen Basin region lost power, and 5,000 people were left without water.

Evacuations

Following the earthquake, approximately 1,500 people were evacuated from the Bowen Basin region. Many people were evacuated to shelters set up by the Queensland government, while others stayed with friends or family.

Relief efforts

The Queensland government provided emergency assistance to the affected communities. This assistance included financial aid, food, water, and shelter. The Australian government also provided assistance, including the deployment of military personnel to help with the recovery efforts.

Recovery

The recovery from the 2011 Queensland earthquake took many years. The Queensland government spent over $12 billion on rebuilding infrastructure and repairing damaged homes and businesses. The mining industry also spent billions of dollars on repairs to damaged mines and equipment.

Lessons learned

The 2011 Queensland earthquake highlighted the importance of earthquake preparedness. In the aftermath of the earthquake, the Queensland government implemented new building codes and regulations to ensure that buildings are better able to withstand earthquakes. The government also developed an earthquake preparedness plan to help communities prepare for and respond to future earthquakes.