5.8 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Shallow Depth Southeast Australia

A 5.8 magnitude earthquake struck at a shallow depth in Southeast Australia on Wednesday morning, causing buildings to shake vigorously in the country's second-largest city, Melbourne. Many residents rushed into the streets in fear, with no immediate reports of injuries or material damage. The U.S. Geological Survey reported that the earthquake's epicenter was only 10 kilometers below the surface, noting that it occurred shortly after 9 AM local time (Tuesday 11:00 PM UTC) and that people hundreds of kilometers away felt it. Parker Mayo, a 30-year-old working at a café, told AFP, "Everything started shaking... everyone was in shock." Social media featured images of bricks that had fallen to the ground on Chapel Street, a shopping area in Melbourne. Strong earthquakes are extremely rare in Southeast Australia, a densely populated region. Mark Holcomb, the mayor of Mansfield, a town near the earthquake's epicenter, told ABC television, "I was at work sitting behind my desk... it took me a moment to understand what was happening." There were no immediate reports of injuries or material losses from the earthquake. Rescue services reported receiving emergency calls from areas as far as Dubbo, a city approximately 700 kilometers from the earthquake's epicenter.