An earthquake has struck near the Great Barrier Reef tourist hub of Townsville.
Geosciences Australia said it had detected an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 4.4 shortly after 9.30pm in Townsville, North Queensland.
British CEO Brenn Clinton said his daughter is on holiday staying in a hotel in Townsville and was told to evacuate.
‘My daughters just FaceTimed, she’s just been evacuated from her hotel due to an earthquake, North Australia, never experienced at earthquake before,’ he said.
Geosciences Australia said if anyone is in need of assistance, they should contact their local emergency services.
In the nearby North Queensland city of Cairns late last year, a hotel was evacuated after a pilot crashed their helicopter into the roof.
Shocking footage showed a fireball rocket into the sky after a helicopter crashed into the roof and two guests were rushed to hospital.
Emergency services were called to the Double Tree Hotel by Hilton on the corners of Esplanade, Abbott and Florence Street, in Cairns.
Queensland Ambulance confirmed in a post on social media that a ‘helicopter has crashed into the roof of a hotel’, before adding that 300 to 400 people had been evacuated.
More to follow.
Geosciences Australia said it had detected an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 4.4 shortly after 9.30pm in Townsville, North Queensland
The city of Townsville – population just under 200,000 – is one the gateways to the Great Barrier Reef and a popular tourist hub
