Power Outages, Water Supplies Cut as 4.7 Earthquake Rocks NSW

A photo depicting the earthquake location in Sydney, NSW Credit: Geoscience Australia

A 4.7 magnitude earthquake has rocked the Muswellbrook region of New South Wales (NSW), in the Upper Hunter Valley region about 250 kilometres north of Sydney.

Power outages have struck parts of the local area, while the local shire said parts of the region may be without water.

A Geoscience Australia report confirmed the earthquake occurred at a depth of 10-kilometre underground.

It initially reported the earthquake as 5 on the Richter scale, but this was later downgraded to 4.7.

Geoscience Australia also reported 2,690 people had called in saying they felt tremors.

The rattles were felt not just in the Hunter region, but also in the outer Sydney suburbs of Marsden Park and the Northern Beaches.

The NSW Rural Fire Service said there had been no reported injuries but urged the public to call triple zero if they required assistance.

The Bureau of Meteorology also reassured residents on X that there was no tsunami threat, while Muswellbrook Shire Council confirmed minor damage and “power outages in some areas of the Shire.”

“Parts of Muswellbrook may be without water, including Woodland Ridge and potentially areas of Eastbrook Links. Council is undertaking an assessment of our essential services and infrastructure.”

The NSW SES said it had received several calls to the state operations centre following the earthquake.

“NSW SES members are prepared to assist NSW Police when and where required throughout the incident,” the agency said.

Footage of a local Mitre 10 hardware store in Muswellbrook showed products had been shaken off the shelves.

One local researcher described how his house had “moved on its foundations,” and that the power was out.

Another Hunter region resident said the earthquake was found far and wide, even in Newcastle which was 140 kilometres away.

“Made the house shake,” she said.