Perth: A 5.0-magnitude earthquake struck Australia's major gold-mining region in the west Tuesday, collapsing roofs of several buildings and prompting the evacuation of mines, schools and hospitals.
There were no immediate reports of injuries.
The quake hit at 8:17 a.m. local time (0017 GMT, 11:17 p.m. Monday EDT) about six miles (10 kilometres) southwest of the town of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, according to Geoscience Australia.
Roofs fell in hospitals and other buildings, and balconies fell off some hotels.
Geoscience Australia seismologist David Jepsen said the quake was fairly shallow and would have been felt several hundred kilometers away.
"This is the largest event in the last 25 years in this region, and it might be the largest since we started recording," Jepsen said.
All mines were evacuated and all miners accounted for, Paul Howes of the Australian Workers Union told Sky News Australia.
"We'll make sure no mines are opened until all the safety checks are done," Howes said.
More than 50 mines operate in Kalgoorlie, 370 miles (595 kilometers) east of the Western Australia state capital of Perth.
The Super Pit - Australia's largest open-pit gold mine - produces up to 850,000 ounces of gold every year.
The area was founded on gold fields in 1893.
