13 Jan 2013

3.4 earthquake felt in Tasmania

6:14 pm on 13 January 2013

A 3.4-magnitude earthquake has struck 10km from Tasmania's northern coast.

The earthquake, about 10 to 12 kilometres from Wynyard, hit at 7.21am on Sunday, sending short and sharp tremors to nearby Burnie and as far away as Launceston, AAP reports.

Geoscience Australia seismologist Jonathan Bathgate said the agency received around 100 calls from residents who felt the tremors.

Mr Bathgate said it was not uncommon to get earthquakes in the area which experienced a 3.6-magnitude earthquake in 2006 and a 3.8 in 2007.

A Tasmania police spokesman said they had received calls reporting the tremor but no reports of damage.