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‘Caravans were rocking’: 6.9 magnitude quake hits Western Australia

The earthquake hit off the coast of Western Australia between Broome and Port Hedland.

The earthquake hit off the coast of Western Australia between Broome and Port Hedland. Photo: AAP

Roofs fell in and caravans were left rocking in Broome after a 6.5 magnitude earthquake hit in the Indian Ocean on Sunday afternoon.

The earthquake struck between Broome and Port Hedland at 1.39pm and was felt across large parts of Western Australia.

Residents have reported feeling the quake across the Kimberley and down the coast as far as Perth.

The United States Geological Survey agency said the quake hit at a depth of 33 kilometres, about 203 kilometres offshore.

Items flew off the shelf in a store in a Broome Shopping Centre. Source: Dylan Storer

Items flew off the shelf in a store in a Broome shopping centre. Photo: Dylan Storer

Phil Barnes, who is holidaying at the Gateway Caravan Park in Broome, said he saw his mate’s car moving up and down.

“Then the caravans started rocking,” he said.

One man in Port Hedland described the moment he experienced the tremor.

“Looked at the daughter and bolted outside in case the roof fell in,” he tweeted.

Derby resident Jody Gaunt was having a beer with friends when they felt the quake.

Panels on the roof in Target dislodged. Photo: Dylan Storer

Panels on the roof in Target dislodged. Photo: Dylan Storer

“We were sitting outside and our chairs were rocking,” she said.

“The trees stopped moving and the breeze stopped blowing.

“We were thinking, ‘Is this real or not real?’ We’ve never had an earthquake up here or a tremor.”

Ms Gaunt, 53, said the quake was the talk of the neighbourhood and it was reported that stock had been shaken off the shelves at the local Woolworths.

There is no threat of a tsunami to the Australian mainland, islands or territories, the weather bureau stated.

There are so far no reports of injuries but several buildings reportedly suffered minor damage.

-with AAP

Topics: Earthquakes
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