Earthquake rocks homes on Phillip Island

Phillip Island residents and visitors have been rocked by an earthquake, with one describing hearing “two large random booms” that sounded like her house was hit by a bus. This is where the quake hit.

The earthquake occurred off the Mornington Peninsula and was felt at Phillip Island. File image: Sarah Matray

Residents have been rocked by a 2.7 magnitude earthquake on Phillip Island.

Almost 50 Victorians have reported feeling the quake to Geoscience Australia since it hit just north of the island, on Victoria’s southeast coast around 10.15am.

Authorities say there is no risk of a tsunami.

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Where the earthquake occurred off the waters off the Mornington Peninsula. Picture: Geoscience Australia

Kate Crock, from the island suburb of Ventnor, said she felt “two large booms” which shook her house.

“Sounded like a bus hit the house,” she posted on Twitter.

In another post, she wrote: “Felt like something had fallen from the sky. Second thought was something went awry at HMAS Cerberus across the bay.”

Max Callahan also reported feeling “1-2 seconds of house shaking” at Smith’s Beach.

More than 50 people have reported feeling the tremor, including dozens on Phillip Island.

Geoscience Australia senior duty seismologist Dan Jaksa said the earthquake was not strong enough to cause any damage.

“This is a minor earthquake,” Mr Jaksa said. “There’s no expected damage to any infrastructure until you get to 4.5 or above.”

But he said they had received reports from residents as far away as Tooradin and Rosebud.

For those closer to the epicentre, Mr Jaksa it would have sounded like “a big truck went by”.

“If you were further away, it’s like a slight rumble,” he said.

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The quake was the 12th largest in the region in 100 years, he said, with 97 recorded within a 50km radius in that period.

The largest was a 5.0 magnitude felt in 1971.

Mr Jaksa urged anyone who felt today’s earthquake to report it at www.ga.gov.au

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