QLD:Earthquake shakes far north Qld

AAP General News (Australia)
04-16-2011
QLD:Earthquake shakes far north Qld

By Darren Cartwright and Chi Tranter

BRISBANE, April 16 AAP - A 5.4 magnitude earthquake has shaken far north Queensland
with a 5.3 magnitude aftershock hitting quake-devastated Christchurch just minutes later.

Geoscience Australia said the Queensland quake happened about 3.30pm (AEST) on Saturday
some 180km from Townsville.

The quake was felt as far away as the Whitsundays off the central coast of Queensland
and in the state's capital Brisbane, a Geoscience Australia spokesman told AAP.

"It's a shallow earthquake, that means it's close to the surface and potentially damaging,"

he said.

"For this type of event we would definitely expect aftershocks ... and generally they
are smaller than the original event."

Townsville councillor Natalie Marr said there had been no immediate reports of damage.

But she told how her windows rattled and her young daughter leapt into her arms during the quake.

"It scared my daughter enough she jumped on the couch with me and my windows were rattling,"

Ms Marr she told AAP.

"I haven't heard of any damage at the moment.

"We usually get SMS warnings if there is more danger and to stay inside and that hasn't
happened."

Ms Marr said she had been listening to the local radio for updates and had heard people
as far south as Bowen calling the station saying they felt the quake.

"It's hard to say how long it lasted, but it was probably about 10 to 20 seconds I
think," Ms Marr said.

"I heard a guy on the radio say he timed it and it lasted 40 seconds, but it's hard to tell."

The Christchurch quake struck at 3.49pm (AEST), centred 10km northeast of Diamond Harbour
at a depth of 11km.

It was felt strongly in Christchurch and also in Timaru.

Christchurch remains devastated following a magnitude 6.3 quake on February 22, which
claimed an estimated 181 lives.

That quake followed a magnitude 7.1 quake last September 4.

AAP/NZPA dac/apm

KEYWORD: QUAKE QLD UPDATE

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