M 4.2 Earthquake Strikes 43 km North of Fitzroy Crossing, Australia
Areazine synthesizes this Geoscience Australia earthquake report directly from USGS's official public data feed. See our methodology for full source attribution and refresh cadence.
A magnitude 4.2 earthquake occurred 43 km north of Fitzroy Crossing, Australia, at a depth of 14.8 km on September 1, 2026, at 12:29 UTC.
What this Geoscience Australia earthquake report tells you, and what most readers miss
This notice was issued by USGS on May 11, 2026 and geographically references Western Australia. Its severity classification of "medium" signals how the issuing agency weighs the risk of harm if no action is taken - "critical" and "high" tier alerts typically carry direct consumer actions, while "medium" and "low" tend toward informational guidance or monitoring advisories. The category it belongs to - Earthquakes - determines the monitoring protocol behind it, which shapes what follow-up action (checking for structural damage, watching for aftershocks, reviewing local building codes) is relevant and which agency holds authority over the assessment.
Most readers skim a notice like this, check whether they are personally affected, and move on. The more useful lens is to verify its scope, source, and timestamp, then compare related notices without assuming that one record proves a broader trend.
Areazine pairs this record with the original agency URL so you can check the primary source before acting. Its related labels are earthquake, seismic, usgs, Australia.
What Happened
A magnitude 4.2 mb earthquake struck 43 km N of Fitzroy Crossing, Australia, at a depth of 14.8 km. The event occurred on September 1, 2026, at 12:29 UTC.
Location Details
The earthquake's epicenter was at coordinates 17.8079° S latitude and 125.6214° E longitude, near Fitzroy Crossing in Australia. At a depth of 14.8 km, this is considered a shallow earthquake, which typically results in stronger shaking near the surface compared to deeper events.
Impact Assessment
No felt reports were available, and no tsunami advisory was issued for this event.
What You Should Know
This light earthquake, with a magnitude of 4.2, may have caused noticeable shaking in nearby areas but is unlikely to result in significant damage. Be aware of the potential for aftershocks, and follow general safety tips such as securing heavy objects and knowing evacuation procedures if in a vulnerable structure.
Source
Information from USGS: https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us6000swyt
Original source: USGS Official Notice ↗
Related Earthquakes
All Earthquakes →Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this Geoscience Australia earthquake report.