Victoria appears to have escaped widespread damage and no injuries have yet been reported after a major earthquake shook Melbourne.

Geoscience Australia said the magnitude 5.9 earthquake hit the Mansfield region, about two hours north-east of Melbourne, about 9.15am. Emergency services reported tremors as far north as Dubbo and Sydney, both about 700km from the epicentre.

 

There have been three aftershocks recorded since then, with experts warning there could be more in the following days and, even months.

The state’s emergency services fielded dozens of calls and 35,000 properties briefly lost power, but deputy premier James Merlino said most reports of damage were minor and there were no reports of injury at this stage.

“Beechworth Hospital lost power, but have back-up,” Merlino said. “Building damage has been reported across Kensington, Ascot Vale, Parkdale, Prahran, Balwyn, Elsternwick, Northcote and West Melbourne... 46 reports in total.”

Helicopters have been dispatched to assess the situation, and Emergency Management Victoria has issued a state-wide warning at the ‘watch-and-act’ level.

The tremors lasted for about 20 seconds though some areas reported they went for longer. It was strong enough to shake a building in Chapel Street in the inner-Melbourne suburb of Prahran, causing the top of the wall to rattle free and bricks to smash on the ground below.