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- According to Geoscience Australia, a magnitude-6.0 earthquake was detected around Mansfield in Victoria’s northeast around 9:15 am
- The agency also said the earthquake is potentially the largest to occur in eastern Australia — at least since European settlement
- Some buildings have been evacuated and footage on social media shows instances of street damage
- Speaking from Washington DC, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said there had been no reports yet of serious injuries
An earthquake was felt across parts of south-eastern Australia this morning, with tremors reported in Melbourne, regional Victoria, Canberra and New South Wales.
According to Geoscience Australia, a magnitude-6.0 earthquake was detected around Mansfield in Victoria’s northeast around 9:15 am, at a depth of roughly 10 kilometres.
The agency also said the earthquake is potentially the largest to occur in eastern Australia — at least since European settlement.
Apartment buildings in inner Melbourne have been evacuated, and footage posted on social media shows damage to other structures and streets.
I hope everyone in #Melbourne is OK!! My friend just sent this to me- it’s from Chapel Street 😱 #earthquake pic.twitter.com/aTi7XPzy5S
— Hannah Sinclair (@hansinclair9) September 21, 2021
Seismology Research Centre chief Adam Pascale said the epicentre of the earthquake was northeast of Aberfeldy and the Thomson Dam in the Alpine National Park.
“We are still refining it, but we think it’s a mag-5.8 potentially at this point in Gippsland,” he told ABC Radio Gippsland.
“It shook here in the northern suburbs of Melbourne for about 15-20 seconds so it’s quite a significant earthquake.”
He also warned there might be aftershocks to come, which could potentially continue for months.
“There is a small likelihood that there could be a larger event but we’ll see as we go,” Pascale added.
Speaking from Washington DC, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said there had been no reports yet of serious injuries.
“That is very good news, and we hope that good news will continue,” he said.
Morrison also noted that he has been in contact with Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and the Federal Government, which will provide whatever assistance is necessary, including ADF support.
“We’ll get further reports as the night unfolds here in the United States, but it can be a very, very disturbing event for an earthquake of this nature,” he said. “They are very rare events in Australia.”
