A magnitude 4.8 earthquake has shaken New South Wales, sending tremors as far as Sydney and causing minor damage to buildings in the region. The quake, initially reported as a magnitude 5, struck near Denman in the Hunter Valley, about 120km north-west of Newcastle, at 12.02pm on Friday. It is the largest earthquake to hit the area in 20 years.

More than 2,000 people reported feeling the tremors, including residents in Sydney, more than 200km away. The quake was also felt as far south as Canberra, as far north as Armidale, and as far west as Dubbo.

Earthquake Damage and Impact

The State Emergency Service (SES) responded to reports of minor infrastructure damage following the earthquake. A building in Muswellbrook had its windows blown in, and a chimney fell off a dwelling in Maitland. The SES also contacted dam owners in the Hunter region to ensure the integrity of dams.

Earthquake Epicenter and Aftershocks

The epicenter of the earthquake was located about 10km from the nearby Mount Arthur coal mine. Senior seismologist from Geoscience Australia, Dr Hadi Ghasemi, said that earthquakes are not unusual near mines as they are typically located close to fault lines.

“The fault lines provide the passage for the fluids to go through them and deposit valuable minerals, but the same process can also increase the likeliness of earthquake occurrence,” he said.

Dr Ghasemi also noted that two aftershocks followed the initial earthquake, the first a magnitude 3.3 and then a magnitude 2.9.

“There is always a possibility that aftershocks could continue for the weeks to come,” he said, “but as a general rule of thumb the largest aftershocks tend to occur [after the main earthquake].”

Social Media Reactions

Social media users across New South Wales expressed surprise and disbelief at feeling the earthquake, with many posting about their experiences on platforms like Twitter and X. Some residents reported feeling their homes shake and furniture move, while others described the sound of rattling windows and doors.

One person in Scone, about 45 minutes drive from Denman, wrote on social media that the tremors had cracked the walls.

“Well that was the first time I’ve really felt an earthquake!! The house shook, the walls cracked. Wild!,” they wrote.

A Reminder of Earth’s Power

The earthquake serves as a stark reminder of the powerful forces at work beneath the Earth’s surface. While the earthquake in the Hunter Valley region was relatively minor in magnitude, it demonstrates the potential for seismic activity to impact communities, even those located far from the epicenter. As scientists continue to study and monitor these events, it is important for residents to be aware of the risks and to take steps to prepare for potential earthquakes in the future.