The earthquake started at 9:15am.
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake occurred in regional Victoria earlier this morning. It was felt throughout Melbourne, the ACT and parts of New South Wales. According to Geoscience Australia, the epicentre was in Mansfield, about 180 km northeast of Melbourne. The earthquake was ten kilometres deep. According to the Bureau of Meteorology, there is no tsunami threat.
— Seismology Research Centre (@AusQuake) September 21, 2021
Impact of the earthquake on NSW
In Sydney, the earthquake was felt in parts of Manly, Marrickville, Glebe, Zetland and further away in Dubbo and Thredbo as well. Slight tremors were also felt in Warriewood Northern Beaches.
There are reports of building damage around Melbourne due to the earthquake but Fire and Rescue NSW say no major structural damage has yet been reported in NSW.
EARTHQUAKE | #FRNSW has dispatched crews across NSW from Alexandria, Manly and Hornsby in Sydney to as far as Dubbo in Western NSW following reports of tremors felt across the state. No reports of major structural damage in NSW have been received.
— Fire and Rescue NSW (@FRNSW) September 21, 2021
Apartment buildings are currently being evacuated in parts of Victoria. There are also reports of significant damage in parts of regional Victoria.
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
New Zealand’s earthquake monitor GeoNet tweeted earlier today that this was the largest earthquake in Australia since 1997.
https://twitter.com/geonet/status/1440468937997651970?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1440468937997651970%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.abc.net.au%2Fnews%2F2021-09-22%2Flive-melbourne-earthquake-victoria-nsw-canberra%2F100481780
If aftershocks occur, you can stay safe in the following ways.
When inside:
- Drop, cover under a sturdy table or piece of furniture and hold on.
- Stay indoors until the shaking stops and you are sure it is safe to exit.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- When the shaking stops, try to get out at the nearest floor if you can safely do so.
- Pull over to a clear location away from buildings, trees, overpasses, and powerlines.
- Stop and stay there with your seatbelt fastened until the shaking stops.
- Once the shaking stops, proceed with caution and avoid bridges or ramps that may have been damaged.
- Move away from buildings, trees, streetlights, and powerlines, then drop, cover and hold on.
- Drop, cover and hold on, then move to higher ground immediately in case a tsunami follows.
- Be alert for falling debris or landslides.
Monitor the Resilience NSW website for more information and regular updates.