5.9 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Near Melbourne Australia

A 5.9 magnitude earthquake struck near Melbourne in southern Australia this morning. According to Geoscience Australia, the earthquake’s epicenter was reported near Mansfield in the state of Victoria. Originally the Australian government had registered the quake at a 6 magnitude but downgraded it to a 5.9. No injuries were reported but at least one building suffered minor damage and power lines were disrupted in the central business district of Melbourne which is Australia’s second largest city.

The city has not had an earthquake of a similar size in decades. No tsunami threat was issued but there was an aftershock of 4.0 magnitude less than half an hour after the original earthquake. The country’s biggest earthquake was in 1988 in the northern territory with a 6.6 magnitude.