One Katherine resident said she felt her legs were a bit wobbly and wondered what was going.

The quake struck about 12.30pm.

It was felt in Darwin as well - lasting about a minute. Parts of the city's CBD have been evacuated but there no reports of major damage or any injuries.

Our resident said she saw signs moving in Katherine and one person said she felt a shop counter move under her arms.

Another Katherine driver in a parked car said it rocked and swayed and he looked around thinking someone was bouncing on the car boot.

The Bureau of Meteorology is saying a magnitude 7.2 earthquake has been experienced in the Banda Sea, more than 300 kilometres deep.

The city evacuations were as a precaution only.

One resident of Mataranka says it was felt there as well.