Friday, August 23, 2024 A 5.0 magnitude earthquake jolted the upper Hunter Valley in Australia region this morning, with tremors felt as far as Coffs Harbour, Sydney, and Canberra. Emergency services have received approximately 2,500 reports from concerned residents across these areas.
Geoscience Australia pinpointed the earthquake’s epicenter near Muswellbrook, occurring at a depth of 10 kilometers. Fortunately, no significant structural damage or injuries have been reported at this time. New South Wales Police are responding to minor structural damage reported in the area.
Local dam owners are advised to inspect their structures for potential impacts, and the public is encouraged to report any damage or injuries to the relevant authorities. The Bureau of Meteorology confirmed via the social media platform X that there is no tsunami threat associated with the quake. Meanwhile, local media outlets report that over 2,000 customers in Muswellbrook, Denman, Jerrys Plains, Bureen, and Bengalla have been left without power due to the earthquake.
Social media has been abuzz with residents describing their experiences of rattling windows, shaking homes, and disturbed furniture. Despite the widespread disturbances, no major damage has been reported. In a related development, two Qantas flights at Sydney Airport were unexpectedly canceled, though the reasons for the cancellations remain unknown.
According to Australian Climate Services, earthquakes with a magnitude above 5.0 typically occur in this region once or twice every one to two years..
