Aftershock jolts Kalgoorlie-Boulder
Kalgoorlie-Boulder is continuing to rattle from aftershocks, four days after a magnitude 5.0 earthquake struck the region and left buildings along Boulder's historic main street with serious structural damage.
Since the earthquake struck about 8.15am on Tuesday, with an epicentre believed to be about 10km south-west of the city, there have been three aftershocks recorded by Geoscience Australia.
Last night, a 2.8 magnitude quake struck south of Kalgoorlie just before midnight, following a 2.6 magnitude quake in Kalgoorlie itself about 6am.
About 2am on April 21, a 2.6 magnitude quake was recorded south of Kalgoorlie.
Kalgoorlie resident Lisa van Oyen said she had been at the computer chatting to friends online when last night's quake struck.
"The whole house shakes and shudders all over again - it wasn't anywhere near as bad as Tuesday but it's still enough to give you a bit of a jolt and a fright," she said.
She said while some people in the community were becoming increasingly nervy, others were complacent about the recent quakes.
"It's a bit like the mining blasts - people are starting to get used to it," she said.
A member of the Stage Left Theatre Troupe of local thespians, Ms van Oyen had feared for the structural integrity of the building in Boulder the group had occupied for about two years. However, apart from a few smashed computers, it appeared to be OK.
"I was all blocked off this week while they were doing the inspections, but apparently it's all safe," she said.
"But section of the wall where it joins up to Rock Inn (on Burt Street), we've got to cordon it off for the time being."
She said most buildings in Boulder were open for business today, bar several two-storey buildings.
Repairs on the historic Broken Hill Hotel began this week, with crews taking the facade apart brick by brick in the hopes of saving and restoring the historical signage.
According to Geoscience Australia, aftershock sequences may continue for anything from several days to several years.
