Darwin residents feel impact of earthquake 600kms away in Banda Sea

People in Darwin have reported feeling the impact of a 5.2 magnitude earthquake in the Banda Sea, 600 kilometres away.

The earthquake hit about 4:15pm (ACST) about 600kms north of Darwin, and 365kms east of East Timor's capital Dili.

Senior seismologist at Geoscience Australia, Jonathan Bathgate, told 783 ABC Alice Springs that people in Darwin had reported feeling the quake.

"We have had a number of felt reports from people in Darwin," Mr Bathgate said.

He said the reports were of a very short-lived rumbling.

"They tend to be felt quite strongly in Darwin compared to what the magnitude of the earthquake is," he said.

One person told the ABC that in the Darwin suburb of Casuarina their computer monitor wobbled during the quake.

There was no tsunami expected.

"It is relatively small and the depth of this earthquake also makes it very unlikely that there would be a tsunami generated," Mr Bathgate said.