Mystery 'boom' requires old-fashioned investigative techniques

The mystery 'boom' that hit the Sunshine Coast of Queensland on Thursday afternoon about 3.15 pm will remain a mystery until reports of the incident can be analysed.

The QUAKES Earthquake Research Centre at The University of Queensland has been inundated with reports of the incident but will require more data to reach a conclusion about its origins. Possible origins include an earthquake, a sonic boom, a quarry blast, or an unusual incident such as the destruction or detonation of explosives.

Initial indications are that the disturbance was equivalent to an earthquake of magnitude 2-3.5 on the Richter scale.

Few working seismographs remain in Queensland and none of those operating picked up any sign of earthquake activity. However, the closest monitoring station on Mt Nebo outside Brisbane may have been too far away to register a relatively small earthquake.

Using the old-fashioned techniques of analysing public reports of the incident, Col Lynam of QUAKES will produce a map of effects that should give an indication of possible causes.

The analysis will take at least a week to complete and members of the public who experienced signs of the disruption are invited to contact QUAKES with information any time in the next week.

People should report:
- their location (including the nearest cross streets)
- the type of building they were in
- whether they were standing or lying
- whether they noticed others feel the effects
- how long the disturbance lasted
- whether the disturbance had a direction
- whether they noticed pets or animals behaving unusually

All reports should go to Col Lynam who can be contacted via:

Phone: 07 3365 3197 (or switchboard 07 3365 1111)
Fax: 07 3365 7347
Email: lynam@quakes.uq.edu.au
Post: Col Lynam, Senior Seismologist, QUAKES, University of Queensland 4072

Media: For further information, contact Tracy Paroz (telephone 07 3365 7418).