4.2 quake shakes Port Hedland

A magnitude 4.2 earthquake has struck approximately 90 kilometres north-east of Port Hedland.

Geoscience Australia duty seismologist Marco Maldoni said the remote location of the epicentre in Western Australia meant damage was unlikely.

Residents of Port Hedland felt the surface-level quake at 11.38pm local time (01.38am AEST), with up to 30 reports submitted to Geoscience Australia shortly after it struck.

"It was like a large truck driving through," Mr Maldoni said.

"We have just under one earthquake a year in the region."

The area is susceptible to shallow quakes, he said, with the largest being a magnitude 5.6 event in 1961.