August 24th 2024.
Yesterday, residents of New South Wales were taken by surprise when an earthquake with a magnitude of 4.7 struck, causing aftershocks that continued to rock the area. The tremors were strong enough to force a school to evacuate and cause damage to homes. People in the town of Muswellbrook were awoken by a 3.2 magnitude quake at around 1:10am, followed by another 2.5 magnitude one at 2:30am.
Hadi Ghasemi, a seismologist from Geoscience Australia, warned that there may be more aftershocks throughout the day. He explained that aftershocks are most likely to occur in the early stages of a sequence, and their frequency decreases over time. In the event of a stronger earthquake, Ghasemi advised residents to protect themselves by dropping to the ground and finding cover under a sturdy shelter.
The initial earthquake, which occurred just after 12pm, was reported as a magnitude 5 but has since been downgraded to 4.7. More than 3000 people across the state reported feeling tremors, with reports coming in from as far as Coffs Harbour and Canberra. Ghasemi described the earthquake as "moderate" but still powerful enough to generate seismic waves that can travel long distances. In fact, records from thousands of kilometers away were used to locate the event.
The location of this earthquake can be attributed to the typically seismically-active coastline, which affects New South Wales, Victoria, and Perth. This region is no stranger to earthquakes, but they are usually smaller in magnitude. However, this time, the quake hit directly underneath BHP's Mt Arthur Coal mine, causing some minor injuries to a few miners. Fortunately, no other injuries were reported in the state.
The earthquake also caused damage to properties in the area. Muswellbrook South Public School, located close to the epicentre, had to evacuate its students. The SES teams in the area reported broken windows at the council depot and damage to multiple homes, some with collapsed chimneys. Ausgrid also received reports of power outages from thousands of people in the surrounding suburbs.
It is important for residents in this region to be prepared for earthquakes, as they can happen at any time. The advice from experts, such as Ghasemi, can help people protect themselves in the event of a stronger earthquake. The safety of the community should always be a top priority, and it is fortunate that no serious injuries were reported from this earthquake.
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