World

Melbourne buildings damaged as southeast Australia hit by 6.0-magnitude earthquake

The Australian city of Melbourne has been struck by a 6.0-magnitude earthquake, Geoscience Australia has said.

The quake, which was one of the country’s biggest on record, caused some damage to buildings as it hit the city on Wednesday.

No serious injuries have been reported so far, prime minister Scott Morrison said.

The epicentre was near the rural town of Mansfield in Victoria, about 200 km (124 miles) northeast of Melbourne with tremors also felt in neighbouring Australian states.

A police officer closes an intersection where debris is scattered in the road after an earthquake damaged a building in Melbourne, Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. A magnitude 5.8 earthquake caused damage in the city of Melbourne in an unusually powerful temblor for Australia, Geoscience Australia said. (James Ross/AAP Image via AP)
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A police officer closes an intersection where debris is scattered in the road

Images and video footage circulating on social media showed rubble blocking one of Melbourne’s main streets.

People in northern parts of the city said on social media they had lost power while others said they were evacuated from buildings.