Quake hits Australia’s historic goldmining town

SYDNEY - Some of Kalgoorlie’s most famous hotels were damaged Tuesday by the biggest earthquake to hit the Western Australia tourism and goldmining town in 50 years.

The quake, measuring 5.0 on the Richter scale, caused buildings to shake in Kalgoorlie and neighbouring Boulder.

But there were no reports of buildings collapsing or injuries, Geoscience Australia said in a statement.

“A balcony has collapsed at the Golden Eagle Hotel on Lionel Street and there has been damage to the Rock Hotel on Burt Street,” the Fire and Emergency Services Authority said in a statement.

“There has been severe structural damage to Boulder Primary School including a ceiling collapse.”

Kalgoorlie, 600 km east of Perth, is a popular tourist stop and the site of Australia’s largest open-cast gold mine. The Super Pit, which is in the middle of town, has been shut while engineers see if there has been any damage.

Residents have been told to turn off electricity, gas and power and told not to use naked flames because of possible gas leaks. Roads have been closed and people told to stay away from fallen power lines.

“I’ve gone through a few Kalgoorlie tremors and this was the biggest one I’ve felt in my 39 years of living here,” resident Shaun Harris told public broadcaster ABC. “I was sitting at my computer and then it hit, a huge rumbling noise and tuff flying off the wall.”