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Buildings damaged and thousands without power as terrifying earthquake rocks Victoria

Rhiannon TuffieldNCA NewsWire
Not Supplied
Camera IconNot Supplied Credit: News Corp Australia

A major earthquake has caused widespread damage in Melbourne and sent shockwaves to several states.

But one major factor has prevented any serious injuries.

The SES received 100 calls for help in the aftermath of the disaster on Wednesday.

The magnitude 5.8 quake caused serious damage to buildings and made skyscrapers shake in the city, striking just after 9am.

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Terrified Melburnians reported swaying in 50-storey buildings and Melbourne’s Chapel St shopping strip was likened to a “war zone” after the largest earthquake in almost three decades rocked the state.

The quake, which struck near Mansfield in the state’s northeast, could be felt as far in parts of NSW, Canberra, Tasmania and South Australia.

MELBOURNE EARTHQUAKE
Camera IconA damaged building on Chapel Street in Prahran in inner Melbourne after a magnitude 6 earthquake hit the city this morning. NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw Credit: News Corp Australia

Staggering footage and photographs showed serious damage to buildings in Melbourne’s Chapel St, with the precinct copping the worst of the damage so far.

Buildings in Fitzroy’s iconic Brunswick St were also significantly affected by the natural disaster, which shook the earth for up to 40 seconds.

Multiple buildings had roofs collapse and parts of the structure fall to the ground, with bricks and debris spilling out onto the road.

“This is f***ed,” exclaimed a stunned bystander on Chapel St, as he and a friend walked past a badly damaged burger joint.

Victoria SES chief officer Tim Wiebusch said there were calls for assistance across both regional Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne.

But lockdown restrictions had averted potential devastation.

“We were probably very fortunate that with the situation in Melbourne at the moment – there aren’t a lot of people out moving during the day,” Mr Wiebusch said.

“Certainly it could have been a lot worse in Chapel St today if it had been a busy Saturday morning.”

He said many of the calls centred around minor structural damage and it was fortunate the epicentre of the quake occurred in an unpopulated area between Mansfield and Rawson.

“Fortunately we’ve not seen any really significant structural damage – it was chimneys, it was facades, but the most significant damage we saw was in and around Chapel Street area, and also Brunswick St in Fitzroy,” Mr Wiebusch said.

“We can expect to see further aftershocks in coming days and potentially even coming weeks.”

Supplied  PICS: Aerial view of earthquake damage in Melbourne. Picture: ABC News
Camera IconAn aerial view of earthquake damage in Melbourne. ABC News Credit: ABC

Building damage was reported across Kensington, Ascot Vale, Prahran, Balwyn, Elsternwick, Northcote and West Melbourne and 35,000 people were without power for a short time across Melbourne’s north.

There have so far been six aftershocks of 3.5, 4.1, 2.5, 3.1, 2.4 and 2.9 magnitudes.

One Melburnian described his terror after the quake caused his 49-storey building to sway for up to 20 seconds.

“Hands down one of the most scariest experiences of my life,” Twitter user Ben Kimber posted.

In the ABC’s Southbank studio, the live reactions of News Breakfast hosts were dramatically captured on Tuesday morning.

Visibly worried ABC journalist and presenter Michael Roland questioned whether the tremor was an earthquake or “a structural thing”.

Crew members were heard swearing in the background at the scary event, with one proclaiming, “that was f***ing scary.”

“That was a big one,” he said.

The quake rocked buildings for the better half of a minute when it struck, with reports suggesting it was the largest earthquake to be felt in Australia since 1997 when a 6.3 magnitude hit northwest WA.

Authorities have warned of aftershocks one magnitude lower and urged people to shelter in doorways, outside or under furniture if another quake occurs.

Mr Wiebusch advised residents to take cover in doorways, under furniture or away from buildings and trees if there were more, significant aftershocks.

“Unfortunately with earthquakes are one of those emergencies or hazards that you can‘t predict, and even the aftershocks now, we won’t be able to predict when they are likely to occur or how frequently they’ll occur,” he said.

PRIME MINISTER
Camera IconPrime Minister Scott Morrison said he was “concerned” about the earthquake in Victoria. NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone Credit: News Corp Australia

Earlier, Prime Minister Scott Morrison relayed his concern about the earthquake and flagged the government would provide necessary support for the state.

Mr Morrison, who is in Washington for high level regional security talks, confirmed he was in contact with Premier Daniel Andrews.

“I’m pleased that reports so far that I’ve received are not of serious injuries and things of that nature. That’s very welcome news,” Mr Morrison said.

“I know that those who may be in distress tonight, during the day there in Melbourne and across Victoria today will be well looked after and well attended to in terms of any needs that they have.”

rhiannon.tuffield@news.com.au

Originally published as Buildings damaged and thousands without power as terrifying earthquake rocks Victoria

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