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Posted: 2024-08-24 07:48:54

The New South Wales Hunter region has been hit by another earthquake on Saturday, a day after a similar event.

The magnitude-4.5 quake hit at 4:40pm in the same area as Friday's, near Muswellbrook, and was felt by 600 people.

Initially recorded as a magnitude-4.7 quake, it was revised down by Geoscience Australia. 

It came after a series of aftershocks, ranging from magnitude-2.5 to 2.7 throughout the day.

NSW Ambulance said there had been no reports of injuries.

The State Emergency Service said reports so far were for minor damage.

Electricity provider Ausgrid said power to the area was briefly affected but had now been fully restored.

In a statement just before 7pm, Muswellbrook Shire Council said some local areas were without water, including  Woodland Ridge and potentially areas of Eastbrook Links. 

A map with red, yellow and orange circles showing earthquake epicenter

The earthquake struck at 4:40pm after a series of aftershocks.

They said work was underway to restore supplies, but advised those impacted to contact council.

Muswellbrook local Wayne Toms told the ABC there had been no damage at his place, but it did rattle.

"We were just in the house and felt the house shake for a few seconds again, similar to yesterday, but not as strong," Mr Toms said.

"No damage here in our house, but walking around there's a few drawers open and there's a few things that have just moved again slightly. I mean the house certainly rattled."

The sentiment was shared by another local, Alyssa Mahony, who posted on social media that she had definitely felt it, but it "wasn't as bad as yesterday".

"Nothing fell and broke today and it seemed shorter but we still have power," Ms Mahony said.

In another post on Facebook, Dominique Martin said she was driving when it hit.

"I thought maybe a fire had started so much dust and a rumble and trees shaking," Ms Martin said.

While Scott Taylor, who was on the fourth floor of Maitland Hospital at the time, said it had lasted about 10 seconds.

Hunter residents from places such as Wollombi, Lower Belford, Cardiff, Cessnock and Warners Bay have also reported feeling the quake. 

While others in Sydney, almost three hours from the epicentre, have also said they felt the quake.

The epicentre of both quakes are near BHP's Mount Arthur coal mine, and the proposed site of a nuclear power plant.

On Friday, there was a mine blast scheduled prior to the earthquake, and another again before today's quake.

Speaking to the ABC, Shadow Energy Minister Ted O'Brien said should an earthquake risk be identified in the Upper Hunter in a nuclear feasibility study, then plans for nuclear power in the Hunter Valley would need to be abandoned.

"If there is a feasibility study done and that comes back with advice that says any power plant should not proceed, then a power plant would not proceed full stop," he said.

A number of mine workers were treated for minor injuries after Friday's quake, but a spokesperson for BHP told the ABC that no-one had been injured today.

They also said BHP had conducted a site-wide inspection and that the tailings dam were unaffected.

The ABC has asked the NSW Resources Regulator about the status of scheduled mine blasts in light of the second quake in the vicinity.

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