Thousands rattled by 4.5-magnitude earthquake in central west NSW

A graphic from Geoscience Australia shows where a 4.5 magnitude earthquake hit central west NSW on the evening of 14 April 2026. Composite: Geoscience AustraliaA graphic from Geoscience Australia shows where a 4.5 magnitude earthquake hit central west NSW on the evening of 14 April 2026. Composite: Geoscience AustraliaThousands rattled by 4.5-magnitude earthquake in central west NSW

Geoscience Australia says aftershocks likely but much lighter and in a smaller area

Part of Australia’s east coast has been shaken by an earthquake that could be felt hundred of kilometres away.

A 4.5-magnitude quake hit at 8.19pm on Tuesday at a depth of 5km about 30km south-west of Orange in central west NSW, near the Cadia goldmine.

Geoscience Australia received more than 2,000 reports of tremors in the region, which a senior seismologist said were weak to light and felt as far as hundreds of kilometres south-east in Batemans Bay.

Dr Phil Cummins said it was “a large earthquake for this area”.

The last of a similar size was a 4.3 magnitude in 2017.

Cummins expected aftershocks but they would likely be much lighter and felt in a smaller area.

More details soon …

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