Magnitude-4.8 earthquake strikes in rural Victoria

The 4.8-magnitude earthquake was felt near Leongatha, Geoscience Australia reported.   (Geoscience Australia)

A 4.8-magnitude earthquake has been recorded near the Victorian town of Leongatha.

Geoscience Australia said the quake hit at a shallow depth of 10 kilometres just after 2am, and the epicentre was near the South Gippsland town, which is about 135km south-east of Melbourne. 

The federal agency's websites cited almost 15,000 felt reports in the area by 3am. There have been no reports of injuries or damage.

Hadi Ghasemi, a geophysicist with Geoscience Australia, told the ABC it was one of the strongest tremors the region had experienced in the last two decades. 

Geoscience Australia also confirmed that a 3.1-magnitude aftershock struck, also near Leongatha, just before 3am.