5.9 magnitude earthquake struck south-east Australia
A 5.9 magnitude earthquake has rattled southeast Australia, damaging buildings in the city of Melbourne. The earthquake happened about 09:15 local time (23:15 GMT) on Wednesday at Mansfield, not far from the Victorian state capital.
The U.S. Geological Survey put the magnitude of the quake at 5.8, later revised up to 5.9, and said it struck at a depth of 10 kilometres (six miles).
Geosciences Australia said an aftershock measuring 4.0 struck shortly after the initial temblor. Prime Minister Scott Morrison, speaking from New York, said there were no initial reports of injuries.
At around just under magnitude six this was “the biggest event in south-east Australia for a long time” Mike Sandiford, a geologist at the University of Melbourne said.
