Thousands of Victorians have woken up to a magnitude 5.0 earthquake that has rattled the state’s southwest.
The earthquake was recorded near Colac in the Great Otway National Park, about 165km from Melbourne, at 2.11am on Sunday morning.
An aftershock with a magnitude of 3.5 then struck nearby at Apollo Bay at 5:44am.
The first quake had a reported depth of eight kilometres, while the aftershock had an estimated depth of 10km.
More than 5000 people reported feeling the first tremor to Geoscience Australia.
Thousands of Victorians have woken up to a magnitude 5.0 earthquake that has rattled the state’s southwest
Reports came from as far north as towns along the NSW-Victoria border and as far south as Tasmania’s King Island.
The quake was also felt throughout Melbourne in the suburbs of Reservoir, Sunshine and St Kilda.
There have been reports of minor damage including broken walls.
There have been no injuries, according to the Victoria State Emergency Service.
Residents who felt the earthquake took to social media. One local in Apollo Bay believed her house was going to collapse.
‘We’re in Apollo Bay right where the earthquake hit and I’ve never felt anything like that,’ she wrote on X.
‘Happened to be feeding the baby at the time and thought the house was going to fall down around us.’
Another woman said: ‘My whole house shook.’
‘Good to know there are always fellow nightowls to confirm another #earthquake in #Melbourne and not my house falling apart,’ said one user.
Most residents near the epicentre who made reports said their houses were violently shaking.
There have been reports of minor damage in the state including broken walls. There have been no injuries, according to VICSES
Seismologists originally measured the quake as being of magnitude 4.7 but later revised this to 5.0 and moved the epicentre from Apollo Bay.
Victoria has experienced multiple earthquakes over the past few years, with a previous tremor occurring near Roxburgh Park in Melbourne’s north last month.
The latest quake is the largest recorded in Victoria since the Mansfield earthquake in September 2021.
The 5.8 magnitude earthquake struck near the small town of Mansfield, 110 miles north-east of Melbourne, and was felt by millions of people.
It damaged buildings, knocked down walls and sent panicked Melbourne residents running into the streets.
The earthquake, which was the largest ever recorded in Victoria, was felt as far away as Sydney, Adelaide and Tasmania.
Seismologist Adam Pascale urged Victorians to ‘be prepared’ as more aftershocks are expected ‘to continue for some months’.
Geoscience Australia has urged those who felt the latest earthquake and the aftershock to make a report to assist seismologists.
A report can be made online here.