Holidaymakers have been forced to evacuate from their hotels after a 4.4 magnitude earthquake hit a tourist hotspot near the Great Barrier Reef.
The quake struck near Townsville, North Queensland, at around 9.30pm local time, according to Geosciences Australia.
Anyone in need of assistance has been urged to contact their local emergency services, they said.
According to Geosciences Australia, small shocks were felt as far away as Cairns and west to Charters Towers.
British CEO Brenn Clinton said his daughter was staying at a hotel and was forced to evacuate due to the earthquake.
He wrote on X: “My daughter’s just FaceTimed, she’s just been evacuated from her hotel due to an earthquake, North Australia, never experienced at earthquake before.”
According to the Townsville Bulletin, more than 4,000 people have lost power following the earthquake with suburbs including Hyde Park, Pimlico, Mysterton, Rosslea affected.
Witnesses told the newspaper they felt their house shake, while another said they felt as though a car had crashed through their home.
