AN earthquake measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale shook areas of central and north Queensland off the coast of Bowen about 2:30pm today, ABC news has reported.

Authorities say there is no tsunami threat and Queensland Police have had no reports of major damage.

And Geoscience Australia senior seismologist Johnathan Bathgate told the Townsville Bulletin that while aftershocks were usually weaker, he couldn’t rule out a stronger tremor,

“For an event of this size we would expect aftershocks. They usually become smaller over time,” he said.

Tremors have also been felt as far North as Cairns and as far south as Mackay. The earthquake was reportedly felt by residents 376km from the epicentre.

Townsville resident John Towning said he was watching the ABC's news channel when his chair started to shake.

“I thought, there's no train around; no plane around then I got up and had a look and I thought, geez, the whole bloody place is shaking,” he said.

“I sat down again and it was like the bloody chair was vibrating. When you looked around at everything on the wall you could see it all shaking.”