5.9 quake hits central Australia

SYDNEY: A 5.9-magnitude earthquake shook a remote region of central Australia early Saturday, the US Geological Survey said.
The quake struck 460km southwest of the desert town of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory at a shallow depth of 10km, USGS said.
In a preliminary assessment, it said there was a low likelihood of casualties and damage.
Geoscience Australia, which measured the tremor at a stronger 6.1, estimated it could have caused damage up to 40km away and could have been felt by people up to 507km away.
The strongest recorded quake to hit Australia was a 6.6-magnitude earthquake which hit the small mining town of Tennant Creek, Northern Territory, in January 1988, according to Geoscience Australia. — AFP