Victoria struck by record 5.9-magnitude earthquake; experts warn aftershocks could last weeks

Victoria has endured six aftershocks already and can expect them for weeks, after the strongest earthquake recorded in the state, authorities warn.

People gather near a damaged building in Chapel St Melbourne after today's earthquake. Picture: AFP

Aftershocks that could last for weeks, if not months, have already started after a magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck in regional Victoria at 9.15am on Wednesday, causing widespread damage in Melbourne.

Tremors from the quake were felt as far away as the ACT, Tasmania and even parts of suburban Sydney. 

Victoria has now suffered six aftershocks and can expect more over the coming days, weeks and possibly months, say emergency authorities, after the largest earthquake ever recorded in the state.

The  quake caused serious damage to buildings and made skyscrapers shake in the city after striking at 9.15am.

Terrified Melburnians reported swaying in 50-storey buildings and Melbourne’s Chapel St shopping strip was likened to a 'war zone'.

VICSES Chief Officer Operations Tim Wiebusch said more than 100 calls for assistance had been made to emergency services, with about 55 for metropolitan Melbourne largely relating to minor damage to buildings.

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.

"As no doubt Victorians will have seen, in Chapel St we saw a wall collapse there and we also saw a facade collapse on Brunswick Road in Fitzroy," he said. "But there have been a range of chimneys and other minor structural damage across the state."

Services on the regional train network V-line were also suspended for a short period of time while about 35,000 homes lost power temporarily, with about 1000 still waiting for power to be reconnected.

"We also saw a range of empty containers that toppled over as a result of the earthquake," said Mr Wiebusch.

Victoria's Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp said Geoscience Australia was now reporting the quake started as a 6.0, was measured as a 5.8 and is now officially a 5.9-magnitude earthquake.

The major earthquake occurred between Mansfield and Rawson in the state's north-east.

Mr Wiebush added that at 5.9, it was the largest earthquake ever experienced in Victoria. He said it was lucky it occurred away from urban regions and that Melbourne was in lockdown.

"So, certainly that could have been a lot worse in Chapel Street today, if it would have been perhaps a busy Saturday morning or the like," he said.

Live coverage of the earthquake has now ended, catch up below on how the day unfolded: