Earthquake rocks residents out of their slumber in Leongatha

AN EARTHQUAKE measuring a magnitude of 4.8 on the Richter Scale hit the Leongatha and Korumburra areas at about 2:01am on Saturday morning, October 3.

The centre was marked close to Arawata between both towns.

That makes it one of the biggest experienced in what is an active area for earth tremors.

There have also been reports of aftershocks, including one felt at 2:57am. Check out the Sentinel-Times' Facebook page for feedback.

The quake was heard and felt over a wide area, from Geelong to Phillip Island and across to other parts of Gippsland.

A Leongatha resident spoken to by the Sentinel-Times said she was thoroughly unnerved by the whole experience.

“I was only half awake, but it really shook the bed,” said the Leongatha resident.

“One of the worst I’ve felt,” she said.

“A few years ago, I was up at Dargo when we had one just as bad.

“I couldn’t tell if the house shook, but the bed was really shaking.

"It was really scary. I’m feeling pretty shaky myself.”

Others reported hearing a loud rumble, getting closer, then a significant shaking of the house when the shockwaves arrived.

Many local people immediately got out of bed, worried about what might come next.

So far, there has been no word of any structural damage but it was certainly a significant event.

Geoscience Australia recorded the quake at 4.8, located between Leongatha and Korumburra (longitude 145.87, latitude -38.39) at a depth of 10km.

Lots of people woke up

The quake was heard over a wide area.

It even woke the South Gippsland Mayor, Cr Nathan Hersey.

“Yes, that was a good one!” he said on the Sentinel-Times’ Facebook page.

Here’s a few other comments about where people felt the quake:

• Felt like the bed was in a roller-coaster in Berrys Creek!!
• Certainly did. Rocked the chair, gave me a fright
• Yes, here I am still wide awake in Wonthaggi.
• Sure, did in Korumburra!
• Very strong at Poowong. Now cannot get back to sleep
• Marked as Arawata on the earthquake map
• Certainly felt it in Warragul
• Yeah, 5km from Arawata in Bena. It was insane
• Yes. Korumburra. Woke up just a moment before it hit. My spider senses must have been tingling. 12-year-old stepson woke up from it thinking someone was in his room trying to get him out of bed, 20-month-old slept through it
• Whole house shook here in Inverloch.

Damage unlikely, said Geoscience Australia

A spokesperson for Geoscience Australia said that typically there wouldn’t be much damage from a quake of that magnitude, other than things falling off shelves.

“The shaking was widely felt, especially close to the epicentre. It was a strong shake, but you know, further away, it was moderate to light,” he said.

He was asked on ABC Radio if damage was likely to occur from an earthquake of this size?

“Given the size of the event, I don't expect any major damage to the buildings of good design. You know, but you know the loose objects may have fallen down. You know, and that kind of stuff.”

He recommended that people check out the Geoscience Australia website for more details and urged people to log their reports.

“I think for the basic information of the earthquake itself, our website at GA, and people can also report their experience, you know, if they have felt the shaking and how strong it was. So, it would be really helpful for us to understand the level of ground shaking,” he said.

You can click on to the Geoscience Australia website HERE