Muswellbrook: Earthquake causes damage, blackouts and school closures
An earthquake has rocked NSW, cracking windows, causing widespread power outages and forcing schools to close.
Initially reported by Geoscience Australia as a magnitude five, the earthquake has since been revised down to 4.7.
The epicentre was near Denman in the Muswellbrook Shire but was felt as far away as Sydney, 100km, Canberra, 520km, and Coffs Harbour, 480km.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.The shaking began about 12pm and lasted for about five seconds before a 2.9 magnitude aftershock hit at 12.15pm.
More than 3000 people have flooded Geoscience Australia’s website to report that they felt the quake, which originated at a depth five kilometres below the earth’s surface.
The Bureau of Meteorology said there was no tsunami threat.
More than 2500 people were still without power four hours after the earthquake and were facing another 12-plus hours before it was restored, according to the Ausgrid website.
Muswellbrook Council said it had received reports of minor damage and was undertaking an assessment of its essential services and infrastructure.
The local aquatic and fitness centre would be closed for the remainder of the day.
One person who took to social media wrote that their walls had cracked.
“Well that was the first time I’ve really felt an earthquake!! The house shook, the walls cracked. Wild!” they wrote.
A woman in Muswellbrook, about 20 minutes’ drive from Denman, said there were multiple shocks from around midday.
“There were two (and it was) not just a tremor, it was a massive earthquake,” she told Sydney radio 2GB.
“The whole house rattled, and then about half a minute later, it rattled again.
“I actually thought it was my new kitten knocking down some things.”
A man more than three hours’ drive away at Cranebrook in western Sydney also felt multiple shocks, but said the earthquake “wasn’t massive”.
Muswellbrook South Public School sent parents a message to let them know that students had been evacuated. St James Primary School also messaged parents to come and collect their children after the power went out.
“ We are all ok. Out on MacKillop [street]. We have no power so if you can please come and get your kids,” the message read.
The Bureau of Meteorology said there was no tsunami threat due to the earthquake.
— with AAP
