Earthquake rattles regional Victoria

AN EARTHQAUKE with a magnitude of 5.0 has rattled residents in southwestern Victoria with thousands of people reporting to have felt the early morning tremor.

Geoscience Australia data showed the earthquake struck at 2.11am today (Sunday, October 22) in the central Otway Rangers near Weeaproinah at a depth of 7km.

The seismologists had originally measured the quake as being of magnitude 4.7 but later revised this to 5.0 and moved the epicentre from Apollo Bay.

An aftershock with magnitude 3.5 was recorded at Apollo Bay at 5.44am, Geoscience Australia said.

Victorian emergency services said no injuries had been reported and the earthquake appeared to have resulted in little or no damage.

More than 4,420 people reported feeling the earthquake by 3.30am.

Geoscience Australia said the quake was felt as far north as Bendigo and as far south as King Island.

 – WITH AAP