RESIDENTS of the NSW central west mistook a magnitude four earthquake in the area last night for a thunderstorm. Geoscience Australia says the quake struck shortly before 8pm (AEST) yesterday at Wyangala, approximately half way between Bathurst and Young. There have been no reports of damage, although people from as far as 100km away have reported feeling the tremor.
"It sounds like people have felt it from a couple of hundred kilometres away, which is a little unusual for a magnitude four," Geoscience Australia's senior seismologist Phil Cummins told news agency AAP. This was probably due to the quake's depth, about 15km below ground, Mr Cummins said.
He described the quake as "moderate".
Marianna Xerri, an employee at the Wyangala Waters State Park, told AAP the quake created more noise than shake at her home, 16km south of Wyangala. "I've been in earthquakes before, and your clothes hangers all shake in the cupboard and all that sort of thing, but it didn't do that," Mrs Xerri said. "It was the noise, it was more like a thunderstorm, like a rolling thunderstorm."
The sound lasted about 20 seconds, she said. "It wasn't long but it was strange."
Geoscience Australia will use the data from the quake to assist in predicting the effects of larger earthquakes. |