6.1 Magnitude earthquake in Banda Sea rattles Darwin and Top End

Darwin has been rattled by an earthquake in the Banda Sea in the middle of the night.

The magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck at about 1:30am local time and was felt by at least 500 residents across Darwin and nearby Palmertson, according to reports from Geoscience Australia.

The tremor was felt as far as far away as Katherine, 300 kilometres south of Darwin.

There is no tsumani threat to the Australian mainland, islands or territories.