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| Melbourne earthquake: Tremor rattles southeast Australia | Melbourne earthquake: Tremor rattles southeast Australia |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Melbourne's popular Chapel St shopping precinct was among areas damaged | Melbourne's popular Chapel St shopping precinct was among areas damaged |
| 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 earthquake happened about 09:15 local time (23:15 GMT) on Wednesday at Mansfield, not far from the Victorian state capital. |
| Prime Minister Scott Morrison said "we have had no reports of serious injuries and that is very good news". | Prime Minister Scott Morrison said "we have had no reports of serious injuries and that is very good news". |
| The earthquake was also felt in neighbouring South Australia and New South Wales (NSW). | The earthquake was also felt in neighbouring South Australia and New South Wales (NSW). |
| It was followed by two aftershocks of 4.0 and 3.1 magnitude. | It was followed by two aftershocks of 4.0 and 3.1 magnitude. |
| While this is one of Australia's largest earthquakes in recent years, it has not caused significant damage. | |
| Speaking from the US, Mr Morrison noted earthquakes were uncommon in Australia and they "can be a very, very disturbing event". | Speaking from the US, Mr Morrison noted earthquakes were uncommon in Australia and they "can be a very, very disturbing event". |
| Melbourne is home to about five million people | Melbourne is home to about five million people |
| Victoria's State Emergency Service warned residents to be alert for possible aftershocks. | Victoria's State Emergency Service warned residents to be alert for possible aftershocks. |
| "If you are located in Victoria, you are in danger. Expect aftershocks, stay away from damaged buildings and other hazards. Avoid driving, except for emergencies," the authority said. | "If you are located in Victoria, you are in danger. Expect aftershocks, stay away from damaged buildings and other hazards. Avoid driving, except for emergencies," the authority said. |
| Quake hit during heart operation | Quake hit during heart operation |
| Surgeon Sameer Thakur said he had been performing a heart bypass operation in Geelong, near Melbourne, when the quake hit. | Surgeon Sameer Thakur said he had been performing a heart bypass operation in Geelong, near Melbourne, when the quake hit. |
| "We're sort of in the crux of the operation and we just felt the whole operating table move," he told BBC Newsday. | "We're sort of in the crux of the operation and we just felt the whole operating table move," he told BBC Newsday. |
| "Looking around the room, all the IV poles were moving and some of the clamps that we have, they were all shaking." | "Looking around the room, all the IV poles were moving and some of the clamps that we have, they were all shaking." |
| He said "fortunately we were at a stage where we could come to a halt" until the shaking stopped, allowing them to complete the surgery. | He said "fortunately we were at a stage where we could come to a halt" until the shaking stopped, allowing them to complete the surgery. |
| The Australian Broadcasting Corporation shared a clip of its breakfast TV presenters reacting in the studio as the earthquake hit. | The Australian Broadcasting Corporation shared a clip of its breakfast TV presenters reacting in the studio as the earthquake hit. |
| Watch the moment an earthquake shakes Australian TV studio | Watch the moment an earthquake shakes Australian TV studio |
| "Is it an earthquake or a structural thing?" presenter Michael Rowland was later shown asking producers. "Let's go… that was a big one." | "Is it an earthquake or a structural thing?" presenter Michael Rowland was later shown asking producers. "Let's go… that was a big one." |
| Several high-rise towers and a city hospital were also briefly evacuated, residents reported. Some city tram lines had been suspended due to damage. | Several high-rise towers and a city hospital were also briefly evacuated, residents reported. Some city tram lines had been suspended due to damage. |
| South Australia Premier Stephen Marshall said his state had felt aftershocks. | South Australia Premier Stephen Marshall said his state had felt aftershocks. |
| One federal MP, Michael McCormack, said the "ground [was] shaking violently" in Wagga Wagga, NSW. | One federal MP, Michael McCormack, said the "ground [was] shaking violently" in Wagga Wagga, NSW. |
| Large earthquakes are uncommon in Australia because the continent lies centrally on a tectonic plate. | Large earthquakes are uncommon in Australia because the continent lies centrally on a tectonic plate. |
| This quake struck at a shallow depth of 10km (6.5 miles), according to Geosciences Australia. It was initially measured at 6.0 magnitude before being revised to 5.9. | |
| The geoscience agency says Australia experiences a potentially damaging earthquake - defined as above 6.0 magnitude - about every 10 years. | The geoscience agency says Australia experiences a potentially damaging earthquake - defined as above 6.0 magnitude - about every 10 years. |
| Melbourne, the country's second largest city, is home to about five million people. | Melbourne, the country's second largest city, is home to about five million people. |
| The city is currently in lockdown due to a recent wave of coronavirus cases. | The city is currently in lockdown due to a recent wave of coronavirus cases. |