By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
HUNDREDS of residents were shaken on Thursday morning by the largest earth tremor to strike Pakenham in the past 50 years.
Geoscience Australia has received more than 700 reports from as far away as Moe since the 3.23-magnitude quake with its epicentre two kilometres west of Pakenham shook about 6.05am.
The federal scientific agency estimated its depth at 11 kilometres.
Duty seismologist Marco Maldoni said Pakenham was on the outskirts of a more earthquake-prone region to the east including Moe and Korumburra. This morning’s was just the eighth in Pakenham in 50 years.
“It has been clearly felt by lots of people who have reported shaking windows and rattling.
“Some described it as a bang or a loud rumble lasting up to five seconds.”
Dr Maldoni said there had been no reported damage, adding “nor would I expect there to be”.
Public reports have come from across Melbourne’s eastern and south-eastern suburbs such as Dandenong, Frankston and Hastings – up to 60 kilometres from the epicentre, he said.
“Most reports have come from Pakenham understandably… it was pretty bloody close to Pakenham.”
He said it was hard to say if there would be aftershocks, or if today’s was a foreshock to a larger seismic event.
He doubted if there was a connection between yesterday’s 3.4-magnitude tremor in Korumburra.
“They are so far apart and of such small magnitude – that is highly unlikely.” he said.
