Recent Natural Disasters | Calamities | Hazards

January 24, 2024: Mass evacuation centers in New South Wales are being reassessed following reports of sexual assaults against women who sought refuge during the devastating 2022 floods in Lismore. A recent report by University of Newcastle researchers uncovered distressing incidents, highlighting instances of violence and sexual assault against women affected by the floods at these shelters. These incidents were attributed to a chaotic environment and poorly coordinated emergency responses. In the aftermath of natural disasters, evacuation centers play a crucial role in providing shelter, safety, and support to affected communities. However, recent incidents have shed light on a disturbing trend: sexual assaults occurring within these centers. The Vulnerability of Evacuees When disaster strikes—whether it’s a bushfire, flood, or cyclone—people seek refuge in evacuation centers. These centers are meant to be safe havens, offering food, water, medical assistance, and a place to rest. Bu

September 22, 2021: Geoscience Australia has confirmed a 5.9 magnitude earthquake at 09.15 AEST morning near Mansfield, Victoria. The earthquake's epicenter was recorded at a depth of approximately 10kms. The quake was felt as far away as the city of Adelaide and Sydney. At least 12 miners were underground at the time of the earthquake in Mansfield, but they had been safely evacuated. The earthquake also damaged buildings on Chapel Street in Melbourne. The Emergency Management Commissioner of Victoria has warned residents that aftershocks could continue for days or weeks. The current earthquake is one of the state's strongest earthquakes in history.

July 29, 2020: An earthquake of magnitude 2.2 has been recorded near Pakenham, about 60 kilometres south-east of the CBD at 7:08pm local time, Geoscience Australia confirmed. The earthquake tremor was felt by the residents across Melbourne's east. The tremor was felt by hundreds of people across the eastern suburbs, from Nar Nar Goon to Croydon.

May 14, 2020: A light earthquake of magnitude 4.3 has been recorded in Burra today at 03:23 pm local time. According to Geoscience Australia , the earthquake in Burra today occurred at 10 km depth. The epicenter was located near Burra, north of Adelaide. Geoscieince Australia received more than 500 earthquake felt reports within 24 hours. The tremor was felt from Mount Barker to Jamestown. This is the largest earthquake within 100 kilometres in the past 10 years. No preliminary damage or injuries have been reported from the earthquake in Burra today.

May 6, 2020: A strong earthquake of magnitude 6.8 earthquake has been recorded in Banda Sea today at 10:53 pm, Geoscience Australia confirmed. According to the Geoscience Australia, the earthquake occurred at a greater depth of 142 km. The deeper earthquake are generally felt in wide areas.  Geoscience Australia received hundreds of earthquake felt reports from Darwin. No preliminary damage or injuries have been reported due to the earthquake.

April 15, 2020: An undersea earthquake of magnitude 4.8 off Bowen, Queensland coast has been recorded today at 5:11 pm, GeoScience Australia confirmed. The earthquake occurred at 10 km depth. Tremor was felt y the people from Townsville to Mackay. There is no threat of tsunami.

Q: When did Meckering earthquake happened? A: Meckering earthquake happened 14 October 1968. Q: What was the magnitude of Meckering earthquake? A; The magnitude of Meckering earthquake was 6.5 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (violent). The earthquake's epicenter was located in Meckering, a town in western Australia . The earthquake injured around 28 people. No more details is known about the 1968 Meckering earthquake.

February 12, 2020: Magnitude 2.8 earthquake has been recorded in  Muswellbrook todat at around 5.26 am. According to the Geoscience Australia , the quake's epicenter was located near a mine west of Lake Liddell. It occurred at 10 km depth. Geoscience Australia received earthquake felt reports from Port Stephens, Newcastle, North Western Sydney and Blue Mountains.

January 5, 2020: The worst bushfires in Australia have claimed lives of 25 people, burned an estimated 6.3 million hectares and destroyed over 2,500 buildings as of January 5, 2020. Eighteen people died in New South Wales, four in South Australia, two in Victoria and one in Australian Capital Territory. The New South Wales Government has already declared a state of emergency in New South Wales. Similarly, a catastrophic fire danger was declared in the Greater Sydney region on 12 November 2019. Since 1851, around 800 people have died due to the bushfires in Australia.

This list contains all major natural disasters in Australia in 2020 with detail report. Click for most recent natural disasters in Australia Subscribe to RSS headline updates from: Powered by FeedBurner

Severe Tropical Cyclone Veronica Forecast Track Map (BOM) March 21, 2019: Severe Tropical Cyclone Veronica has reached a category four severity with major impact for the Pilbara coast likely over the weekend. According to Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), Australia , at 8:00 pm AWST, Tropical Cyclone Veronica was located within 35 kilometres of 17.3 degrees South, 117.3 degrees East , 360 kilometres north northwest of Port Hedland and 385 kilometres north of Karratha. Severe Tropical Cyclone Veronica, a Category 4 system, is moving slowly towards the Pilbara coast. The cyclone should continue its south to southwest track tonight and Friday before taking a more south southeast track on Saturday. Whilst it is possible that the cyclone may weaken before reaching the Pilbara coast, a severe coastal impact is likely, BOM reported. Widespread very heavy rainfall conducive to major flooding is likely along parts of the Pilbara coast over the weekend. Heavy rainfall may extend thro

Tropical Cyclone Trevor Forecast Track Map (BOM) March 21, 2019: Authorities have declared a state of emergency in the Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia ahead of the arrival of Tropical Cyclone Trevor. According to Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (BOM), Tropical Cyclone Trevor is located in the eastern Gulf of Carpentaria and is expected to rapidly intensify to a Category 3 system as it moves towards the NT. In the west, Cyclone Veronica is now Cat 4 & tracking towards the Pilbara coast.  Tropical Cyclone Trevor will continue to intensify off the western Peninsula coast as it moves southwest. A severe impact on the southwestern Gulf of Carpentaria coast is likely over the weekend. According to BOM, at 9:30 pm ACST, Tropical Cyclone Trevor was located within 20 kilometres of 13.6 degrees South, 141.1 degrees East, 75 kilometres west southwest of Aurukun and 510 kilometres east of Alyangula. Tropical Cyclone Trevor is located over water in the eastern Gulf of Carpe

February 27, 2019: Geoscience Australia has recorded a magnitude 2.6 weak earthquake in Port Hedland, WA today. The earthquake occurred at 10km depth at 9:47 pm.  Weak shaking of MMI II-III was felt across Tecoma way, Pretty Pool, Wedgefield, Port Haven and South Hedland. No damage or injuries has been reported.

February 19, 2019: A flash flood warning has been issued saying that Parramatta's CBD could be overwhelmed by a flash flood in as little as nine minutes, giving residents little time to evacuate. "The risk is the inability to get people out. Our warning times can be short,"  The Sydney Morning Herald reported citing George Jeoffreys, senior manager for risk reduction and avoidance at the NSW State Emergency Service . FloodSmart Parramatta now provides flood risk information for the Upper Parramatta River which includes the upstream areas from Parramatta CBD. FloodSmart Parramatta offers a free flood warning service that provides early warning messages, to residents and businesses, when they think flooding is likely. One can choose to receive warning messages in any combination of text, email, or automated voice message. Original Post:  Recent Natural Disasters List February 19, 2019

March 31, 2017: Two people have been confirmed dead in flooding as Cyclone Debbie swept along Australia’s east coast, causing six large rivers to reach major flood levels. A woman died due to flooding in Burringbar, south of Murwillumbah in NSW. The body of a second woman was found in a river in the NSW Hunter Valley.

March 26, 2017: The Department of Education has shut at least 139 schools and early childhood education and care service in preparation for Cyclone Debbie. Around 74 public schools have been closed in preparation for Cyclone Debbie. Also, 26 catholic and independent school have been shut down. Apart from that, 39 early childhood education and care service have been also closed.

The Waiho River burst its banks in Australia Wednesday night flooding an area of 1 km north of Franz Josef and forced the evacuation of 186 people.  The Mueller hotel near Franz Josef has also been flooded after the Waiho River broke its banks. Earlier, a boil water notice and local state of emergency was declared on Thursday which was lifted another day.

The partial solar eclipse was visible in areas of the Northern Territory and Western Australia on March 9, 2016. Total solar eclipse of 2016 started in the Indian Ocean and passed through Indonesia before ending in the northern Pacific Ocean. The total solar eclipse occured in more than 35% area of Indonesia. People in northern Australia and parts of South Asia observed partial eclipses.

Flooding in Australia claimed life of a person after his car swept off a flooded road south-west of Bundaberg in southern Queensland. According to the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM), nearly 150 millimetres of rain fell across the Wide Bay and Sunshine Coast regions in the 24 hours to Sunday morning.

Tropical Cyclone Stan Forecast Track Map issued at 8:52 pm AWST 30 January 2016 (BOM) Tropical Cyclone Stan, the first cyclone of the season for Australia, is expected to bring potentially damaging wind gusts and heavy rain in Western Australia . According to the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), Stan is predicted to intensify to a Category 3 Severe Tropical Cyclone and would cross the east Pilbara coast early on Sunday morning.