A mass panic caused by Australia's equal-largest earthquake has left residents in remote Western Australia too afraid to return home days after the first shockwaves hit.

Key points: Community leaders blame poor telecommunication infrastructure for a lack of information after the quake hit

Community leaders blame poor telecommunication infrastructure for a lack of information after the quake hit Locals in several Indigenous communities were terrified they would die in the strong earthquake and fear more aftershocks

Locals in several Indigenous communities were terrified they would die in the strong earthquake and fear more aftershocks WA's Indigenous interpreting service and police will work on providing culturally appropriate information after natural disasters

The magnitude 6.6 earthquake caused people at the Bidyadanga Aboriginal Community to run screaming into the streets when it struck 200 kilometres offshore on Sunday afternoon.

Some community leaders have blamed poor telecommunication infrastructure for a lack of information.

An Indigenous interpreting service said the fallout highlighted a gap in disaster response planning as authorities continued to work with residents to calm their fears.

More than 50 aftershocks have rocked northern WA after an earthquake on Sunday. ( Supplied: Geoscience Australia )

Quake strikes

At 1:39pm Sylvia Shoveller was resting on a lounge in her house when she felt the furniture begin to shake.

She thought it was her grandson playing but quickly realised the whole house was shuddering.

"I said, 'Get under the bed, get the mattress and put it over you'," Ms Shoveller said.

"We're going to die, that's what I thought."

"My daughter was running down the road shouting 'Is anybody alive?'."

A Broome supermarket after the quake. ( Supplied: Jessica Stephens )

Thousands affected

Thousands of people across northern WA felt the ground tremble violently for up to a minute on Sunday afternoon.

Those in offices and apartment buildings reported feeling the worst tremors.

Despite the earthquake being on par with the strongest ever recorded in Australia, the effects appeared limited to minor structural damage and there were no reports of serious injuries.

But in the immediate aftermath of the initial shock, those near the epicentre feared a disastrous tsunami was heading their way and many felt ill-prepared to cope.

Tsunami fears spark mass panic

In Bidyadanga, Sylvia Shoveller's family fled their home to the community store where other residents had gathered.

"We just waited there for answers," she said.

Local police officers arrived a short time later to update the crowd, telling residents the immediate danger had passed and that a tsunami was unlikely.

But instead of calming the community, the mention of a tsunami sparked a mass exodus.

"When [the police] said 'tsunami' everyone shouted, then they all packed up and were gone," Ms Shoveller said.

Droves of residents fled to the highway, 13 kilometres away, anxious to get as far from the water as possible.

"We went out to our block and we camped there and we're still there," Ms Shoveller said.

"We just feel it's going to happen again. We're scared."

It is understood that some residents travelled about 1,000km inland to ensure their safety.

Jessica Bangu and Rosie Munro have been afraid to return to their community after the earthquake on Sunday. ( ABC Kimberley: Tom Forrest )

On a remote beach outside town, Jessica Bangu was bending down to pick up a shell when the earth began to vibrate.

"The ground beneath me moved and my head started spinning. I felt like I was going to fall," she said.

Ms Bangu was with 11 children on a family fishing trip.

She was convinced that they had upset a sacred spirit from the area.

"The first thing that came to our mind was that one of those kids had not been to that place before and the spirit was angry," she said.

Feeling disoriented and unsettled, they left the beach immediately.

The Bidyadanga community was one of the closest populated centres to a magnitude 6.6 earthquake that struck on Sunday. ( Supplied )

Poor infrastructure

Almost 360km further north at Djarindjin, community CEO Nathan McIvor was having lunch at home when the house began to sway.

"The ground was moving, the buildings were moving, then we went outside and realised it was an earthquake," he said.

While the level of panic was lower than in Bidyadanga, critical information was not immediately available.

"We're in a black spot for mobile reception and the internet is always down," Mr McIvor said.

"We couldn't get any phone calls out."

It was not until 8 o'clock that evening when Mr McIvor was able to get online to find out where the earthquake had struck, relying on information from a US-based enthusiast.

"The information that we got online from an American YouTuber was that there was no tsunami risk," he said.

Hysteria hinders response

Bidyadanga chief executive Tania Baxter praised the efforts of emergency services.

She said the information was passed on to residents but many preferred to take shelter outside of town.

"It was shocking and scary; there was certainly panic," she said.

"Despite giving them information and trying to keep people informed, they were so scared that they were not listening.

"That created a bit of a mass hysteria situation.

"I think we did a pretty good job trying to keep people calm, but they were in a state of emotional distress where they just weren't hearing it."

It is understood up to 50 residents remain in camps outside the town.

More than 50 aftershocks have been recorded since Sunday's earthquake, with the potential for more.

Time for review

Aboriginal Interpreting WA chief executive Deanne Lightfoot said the state needed to improve its culturally appropriate responses to natural disasters.

"This event has illuminated the need for a wholistic review of the communication strategy around emergency responses," she said.

It is understood emergency services have been seeking advice from WA Police Indigenous liaison officers.

Ms Lightfoot said the issue would be discussed with the state's senior police officers at an upcoming meeting.

She called for changes to allow interpreters in WA to work more closely with emergency services following the lead of interpreters in the Northern Territory.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services said it had been in regular contact with communities along the north-west coastline to offer information and support.