Earthquake ruled out as Tin Can Bay and Rainbow Beach shaken by mystery event

The shaking was felt by multiple households in the Gympie region, with one resident saying it ‘felt like an explosion, like the whole house had been hit by something heavy’

Monitoring service AllQuakes received reports of an earthquake in Hervey Bay, which was felt along the Cooloola Coast. Image: Volcano Discovery.

Cooloola Coast residents were left puzzled on Thursday after many experienced what felt like a mini earthquake around midday.

The shaking was initially reported by residents of the Fraser Coast, but chatter on social media revealed it was also felt by dozens in Rainbow Beach and Tin Can Bay.

The possibility of an actual earthquake was ruled out by Geoscience Australia, causing speculation the army training base at Camp Kerr could have been responsible, though that is a long way from Hervey Bay.

This idea was soon shut down by a spokeswoman at the base who said while training was being carried out, none of the activities on Thursday could explain the shocks.

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While the cause of the shaking remains a mystery, residents took to Facebook to share their experiences.

Luxie-leigh Findlater said she was at Tin Can Bay State School when she felt the whole class shake.

Rainbow Beach resident Garry Hewitt said he “definitely” felt shaking and the lights were swaying.

Monitoring service AllQuakes received reports of an earthquake in Hervey Bay, which was also felt along the Cooloola Coast. Image: Volcano Discovery.

“Felt two shakes in Rainbow,” Mr Hewitt wrote on a Rainbow Beach community page.

Another Tin Can Bay resident, Jayde Jardine, said she was at the vets in town when she felt something strange.

“I thought ‘what was going on?’,” she wrote.

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Jodee Cooper said she didn’t feel shaking but just noticed the windows rattling.

“Couldn't work out why, just thought it was strange how the windows rattled,” she commented.

Multiple locals also took to an “unconfirmed earthquake” report on a Volcano Discovery site, voicing their take on the event.

One Cooloola Cove resident said they were standing near the back door when they felt the “whole house” shake.

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“Noticed windows shook, followed by two subsequent smaller shakes,” they said.

Someone living in Tin Can Bay also commented on the Volcano Discovery site saying it “felt like an explosion”.

“The whole house shook like it had been impacted by something heavy,” the resident stated online.

“Thought it was the army training base nearby.”

Did you feel the shaking? Let us know on Facebook or by emailing [e-mail]