People In Melbourne Freak Out After 6.0 Magnitude Earthquake Hits

People in Melbourne have been shocked to experience a 6.0 magnitude earthquake this morning (September 22).

The Victorian State Emergency Service said: "A magnitude 6.0 #Earthquake has occurred with an epicentre near Mansfield in Victoria.

"Widespread felt reports. If you have building damage or require SES assistance, phone 132500 and please be patient as lines may be busy."

Seismology Research Centre senior seismologist Wayne Peck revealed it's the largest earthquake to hit the state since records began.

There have been hundreds of reports about the quake, including building damage in several Melbourne suburbs, such as in Brunswick, Mansfield and Prahran.

Many raced to social media to report feeling a pretty intense shaking just after 9am.

It went for several seconds before subsiding. The earthquake struck at a depth of 10 kilometres below surface level, which could explain why it felt so strongly.

The quake has been felt by people in regional Victoria, Melbourne and even rural New South Wales.

There is no tsunami threat.

Melbourne Uber driver Sandesh Bidari told the Herald Sun: "We were driving along West Gate Bridge and then all of a sudden the sterering wheel felt a bit weird and it was moving," he said.

"Then the suspension cable and light pole were moving on the bridge. I thought it was just the wind but then I heard on the radio it was an earthquake.

"It was very weird and unusual - 2021, what a year."

Topics: Australia

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Trending Journalist at LADbible. His first job was as a newsreader and journalist at the award winning Sydney radio station, Macquarie Radio. He was solely responsible for the content broadcast on multiple stations across Australia when the MH17, Germanwings and AirAsia disasters unfolded. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign.

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