The Australian city of Melbourne was rocked by an earthquake measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale today. It is one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded in the area, which was followed by a second earthquake moments later. Images show that there is significant damage to buildings in the center of the city.
The epicenter of the quake was in Manfield, a town about 150 kilometers from Melbourne. The earthquake struck at around 9:15 a.m. (local time) at a depth of about 10 kilometers and was followed moments later by a second earthquake measuring 4.0 on the Richter scale. The quake was felt as far as Sydney. There is no tsunami threat, authorities said.
It is the first time in decades that the area has been hit by such a massive earthquake. Unlike nearby New Zealand, there are hardly any earthquakes in Australia.
The last major earthquake in Victoria, the state of which Melbourne is part, was in 1966, when an earthquake measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale, reports The Guardian .
It is not clear if there are any injuries. Victoria authorities report that firefighters are on their way to affected areas. There are many old buildings in Melbourne, it is unclear how much damage these have sustained. Images on social media show that there is damage in the city:
Melbourne in one video. People evacuated after the earthquake and mounted police heading into the city. pic.twitter.com/dkunUfhooQ
— Sharnelle Vella (@SharnelleVella) September 21, 2021
Footage sent to me from Chapel St Melbourne. pic.twitter.com/MibuhizyUM
— Matilda Boseley (@MatildaBoseley) September 21, 2021
The earthquake was also felt during a live TV broadcast of the Australian Breakfast News:
A magnitude six #Earthquake has rattled Melbourne and regional Victoria.
— News Breakfast (@BreakfastNews) September 21, 2021
This is the moment when News Breakfast presenters @mjrowland68 and @Tonaaayy_ were rocked by it. pic.twitter.com/Z4gz0sWJve
Melbourne is currently in lockdown due to the coronavirus. This has led to fierce protests in the city in recent days, because residents do not agree with the policy of the government. The protests continued after the earthquake. The police arrested several people for violating the corona measures:
Police have already swooped on potential protesters on Leicester street @9NewsMelb pic.twitter.com/VXvrSNkovL
— Gillian Lantouris (@gillianlant) September 21, 2021
