A magnitude 4.9 earthquake struck near the east coast of Australia on Saturday, shaking parts of Queensland and briefly cutting power to thousands of households, the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) reported.
The quake, initially measured at 5.7 before being revised to 4.9, hit at a shallow depth of 10 kilometres (6.2 miles). Geoscience Australia placed the epicentre near the rural town of Kilkivian, about 170 kilometres (110 miles) northwest of Brisbane.
Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology confirmed there was no tsunami threat to Queensland following the tremor. However, state-run power distributor Energex said around 11,000 properties lost electricity during the quake, though most supplies were quickly restored.
More than 9,000 people across the state reported feeling the shaking, according to Geoscience Australia, with tremors experienced in both rural and urban areas. No casualties or major structural damage have been reported so far.
Earthquakes are relatively uncommon in Queensland, making Saturday’s tremor one of the strongest felt in the state in recent years. Authorities said they are continuing to monitor the situation and assess any potential aftershocks.
Written By Rodney Mbua
