Massive 5.4 magnitude earthquake hits central Australia - and is followed by 4.3 aftershock felt 350 kilometres away
- The 5.4 magnitude earthquake could be felt from over 350 kilometres away
- A 4.3 magnitude aftershock struck just five hours later in the NT's Tanami Desert
- The initial earthquake could be felt as far as Alice Springs and Tenant Creek
- People from Willowra, a remote town, felt the ground shake for over a minute
- A woman said her fan was knocked over as the ground shook beneath her home
Central Australia has been rocked by a 5.4 magnitude earthquake that could be felt from 350 kilometres away.
A 4.3 magnitude aftershock struck just five hours later at 5pm in the Northern Territory's Tanami Desert on Thursday.
The initial earthquake lasted for over a minute at 11:56am on the same day.
Willowra, a remote NT town, was the closest settlement to the earthquake - 100 kilometres away.
Resident Tashiana Williams was relaxing at home when the earthquake struck.
Willowra (pictured), a remote NT town, was the closest settlement to the earthquake
Cattlewoman Anita McCarthy (pictured) and her family felt the earthquake in Stirling Station, 150 kilometres east of Willowra
'It was rough and lasted about a minute but the force knocked my fan over,' she told NT News.
'I had no idea what was going on and I was scared 'cause I've never felt an earthquake before.'
Cattlewoman Anita McCarthy and her family felt the earthquake in Stirling Station, 150 kilometres east of Willowra.
'It was bizarre. I left the house to walk to the store and all of a sudden I heard this loud bang,' she said.
'I thought it was a gas explosion or something.
'My husband and son ran out of the house and said it was shaking.
'I looked over at the horse and I could see they'd tensed up. Their faces were alert and their ears had perked up.'
The earthquake lasted for over a minute in the Tanami Desert (pictured) in the Northern Territory at 11:56am on Thursday
Geoscience Australia Senior Seismologist Hugh Granville said the earthquake 'could have done some damage if it was in a more populated area'.
'This area has seen one earthquake a year for the last ten years,' he said.
'It was comparable to the Newcastle earthquake, which was 5.6.'
The 1989 Newcastle Earthquake killed 13 people and injured 160 more.
The largest earthquake in the Tanami region was 6.6 magnitude in 1980, when two other 6.3 and 6.2 quakes were also recorded.
Thursday's quake was a intraplate earthquake caused by tension released as the Australian tectonic plate pushes north toward Asia.
A green earthquake alert was issued, which means 'minor damage' could be caused.
The earthquake struck the Tanami Desert (pictured), a remote area of Australia
