Residents around the Sunshine Coast and beyond say they were left shaken by an unexplained phenomenon on Monday.
Hundreds of people said they felt and heard rattling in the morning, and many offered theories for it.
“Did the Earth just move for anyone else?” Sarah Graham-Evans asked on the Buderim Community Board Facebook page.
“10.40ish on Monday 23rd. The whole house shook, and the windows rattled.”
‘Sharon OS’, who lives off Dixon Road, said she “heard a rumble noise”.
“The house didn’t move but it sounded like heavy running on floorboards,” she said.
‘Jess Jess’ said the movements forced her into action.
“I was having a go at my teen son, thinking he was slamming doors,” she said.
Multiple community groups on social media were abuzz with reports of the movement.
Tracey Bashford said “I thought someone was on my roof”.
People reported the rumblings at Tanawha, Mons, Mapleton, Caloundra, Nambour, Maroochydore, Glass House Mountains, Peregian Springs and beyond.
Julie Hay of Aroona was taken aback.
“I was sitting out the back of the house doing a crossword and it (the rumble) was loud enough for me to look up, thinking it was thunder. I thought it was weird as there were no clouds,” she said.
Many residents reported the event to various quake-associated websites and groups.
The Australian Government agency that reports on significant earthquakes and forms part of the Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre said via social media that no ground-breaking activity was recorded.
“Geoscience Australia received multiple felt reports from the Sunshine Coast and Gympie area at around 10.45am, however no seismic event was observed,” it said about 11am on Monday.
A spokesperson told SCN the agency could not offer any further thoughts or information.
“This wasn’t an earthquake so we can’t provide any comment or insights,” they said.
There were many theories from locals about what it could have been, including a sonic boom from a meteor entering the atmosphere or a meteor breaking up.
“Thought it might have been an explosion,” Toni Burt of Bli Bli said.
“Last time, it was a jet breaking the sound barrier, about 10 years ago,” Russell Wall said.
“Fracking somewhere maybe,” Mick Mahony said.
“Blasting from the quarry or army training area at Tin Can Bay,” Peta Hampsill said.
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