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2:55am Earthquake Strikes the Hunter Region
Residents across the Hunter region, North Coast and well into Sydney were woken in the early hours of Wednesday, 23 April, by a powerful earthquake that rattled homes and shook nerves.
According to Geoscience Australia, the quake struck at 2:55am with a magnitude of 4.6 and a depth of 10km, centred east of Milbrodale near Singleton. Early reports indicated a stronger 5.1 magnitude, contributing to confusion and concern in the community.
From Newcastle to Penrith, and all the way down to Sydney CBD and the Northern Beaches, people described being jolted awake by the violent shaking.
“I was up feeding my baby and the rocking chair moved like someone was pushing it,” said Emily Middleton of Edgeworth. “It felt like a car hit the house.”
Les Williams from Wentworth Point confirmed, “Just felt it here in Sydney. Bed shook, windows rattled.”
Reports flooded in from residents in Charlestown, Mayfield, Cessnock, Kurri Kurri, and as far as Camden Park and Umina Beach.
“Having been in Newcastle during the 1989 earthquake, I knew immediately that’s what it was,” said Libby Hakim of Maitland.
For some, the event stirred fears beyond seismic activity.
“Kinda thinking they might want to rethink that whole ‘putting a nuclear reactor in the Hunter Valley’ thing!” posted Simonne Pengelly.
Further into the Hunter, Caprice Campton in Rutherford posted, “That was insane. Whole bed rocked, windows shaking, and I’d just been watching horror films. Thought the world was ending.”
Melissa Tanner from Cessnock said, “I was sound asleep, then boom. The house was swaying. Thought it was a truck at first.”
Jody Troy in Rutherford added, “Whole family woke up. Dog went crazy. We all ran to the hallway.”
Despite the widespread impact, there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.
One commenter joked, “Shower door started its own career in sound production.”
Aftershocks are common following events of this magnitude. The Hunter region has experienced a swarm of aftershocks in the past following the Singleton earthquakes, and residents are advised to remain cautious in the coming days.
