Map courtesy Geoscience Australia. Source: Herald Sun
The tremor recording courtesy Geoscience Australia. Source: Herald Sun
RESIDENTS have been rattled by an earth tremor that struck 32km east of the city this morning.
The 1.5 magnitude quake - with an epicentre at Grandvalley Drive in Lilydale - was felt at 6.57am.
Residents reported feeling the tremor in suburbs as far and wide as Montrose, Mooroolbark, Dandenong, Mt Evelyn, Monbulk, Bayswater North, Belgrave, Croydon and Upwey.
Some reported hearing a loud boom like an explosion and some reported that their houses shook from the force of the tremor.
Geosciences Australia said the quake was only 1km below the surface, which may have caused the loud noise.
The SES said there were no reports of injuries or property damage, but advised residents to check for damage to walls and chimneys.
Geoscience Australia duty seismologist Steve Tatham said residents had been startled by the noise of the earthquake.
"A small earthquake centred under a populated area near Lilydale out of eastern Melbourne was felt just before 7am," Mr Tatham said.
"It's of a 1.5 magnitude, which is quite shallow, it's pretty small but it would have been felt by residents in the area as where it occurred is densely populated."
Source: Herald Sun
Lilydale resident Zoe Lewis said the quake "sounded like an explosion really far away".
"There was a bit of low rumbling. I definitely thought to myself - 'what was that?!'"
Melburnians took to Twitter after it happened.
Matt tweeted: "I'm in Mooroolbark and got the 7am wake up call when the house shook #rumbleinthejungle."
Kel tweeted: "Yes woke me up, shook the house. Was waiting for sirens but heard none. Hope everyone is safe!"
One caller to 3AW described the sound like an exploding drum.
Geoscience Australia said the region gets at least one earthquake of this kind a year.
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