Magnitude 4.1 Earthquake Shakes Upper Hunter Region, Felt Across Multiple Suburbs

12 November 2024

Residents across the Upper Hunter were rattled on Tuesday afternoon when a magnitude 4.1 earthquake struck near Muswellbrook at 12:12 pm. The quake’s epicentre was located near BHP’s Mount Arthur mine site, south-west of Muswellbrook, at a shallow depth of approximately 3 kilometres.

Thousands of properties temporarily lost power due to the tremor, but electricity provider Ausgrid reported that most services were restored swiftly. There have been no reports of injuries or significant structural damage at this stage.

The seismic event was felt far and wide, with residents in numerous suburbs reporting the shake. Communities in Muswellbrook, Singleton, Cessnock, Rutherford, Bellbird, Greta, and Branxton experienced noticeable tremors. Reports also came in from as far afield as Newcastle, Maitland, Salamander Bay, Lemon Tree Passage, and even some parts of Sydney.

Rebecca Robinson of Cessnock said, “Felt it in Cessnock. Poor old house has felt them all.”

In Muswellbrook, local resident Adrian Hagan described the quake’s impact: “Yeah, that was a big one—watched the water slosh around my fish tank and have just noticed a couple of fresh cracks in the brickwork.”

This latest quake is part of an ongoing “earthquake swarm” that has affected the region since a significant magnitude 4.7 earthquake on August 23. Since then, over 50 earthquakes have been recorded in the area, with four exceeding magnitude 4.

Dr Hadi Ghasemi, a senior seismologist from Geoscience Australia, explained that earthquake swarms involve a series of quakes with similar magnitudes rather than a single main shock followed by smaller aftershocks. “This kind of activity may continue for months or even years to come,” he warned.

Upper Hunter MP Dan Repacholi took to social media to reassure residents. “Another big shake in Muswellbrook just now. 4.1 magnitude, 10km deep. Any issues, please reach out to me or my office. No reports of major damage at this stage. Council are doing inspections on infrastructure,” he posted.

Residents shared their experiences across social media platforms. In Bellbird, Clare Jones noted, “Yes, felt here in Bellbird.” At East Branxton, Monique Grantley commented, “Felt it in East Branxton.” Others in areas like Charlestown, Nelson Bay, and Redhead also reported feeling the tremor.

The Bureau of Meteorology confirmed that the earthquake posed no tsunami threat to the Australian coastline. “No tsunami threat to Australia from the earthquake felt in Muswellbrook, NSW (magnitude 4.1 near New South Wales),” the agency stated.

Authorities are continuing to monitor the situation closely. Geoscience Australia has encouraged residents to report any seismic activity to help with their data collection and analysis.

Dr Ghasemi advised residents to stay informed and be prepared for the possibility of further tremors. “While larger quakes cannot be predicted with certainty, understanding the patterns can help communities stay prepared,” he said.

Residents are reminded to check their properties for any signs of damage and report concerns to local authorities.

Karen Adnum from Muswellbrook has been logging earthquake time and dates since 23/8/2024