'Unusually powerful' earthquake strikes off Cairns

A 4.3 magnitude earthquake has been detected off the coast of Cairns in Far North Queensland.

The quake happened around 10pm yesterday, about 130kms off Cairns, according to Australian government department Geoscience Australia.

It was described as "unusually powerful" by Earthquake List Australia.

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The earthquake's shallow depth of 10km gave it a greater impact than others deep in the earth.

Residents in Cairns may have felt the impact, Earthquake List Australia said.

While after shocks occur after an earthquake, there was a 94 per cent chance that no larger main shock will follow in the days following this earthquake.

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