The Central West region of New South Wales has experienced a significant earthquake that resonated across hundreds of kilometers throughout the state.

This tremor, registering a magnitude of 4.5, was detected south of Orange, near the Cadia gold mine, at around 8:19 PM AEST on Tuesday.

Geoscience Australia has received over 1,700 reports from residents who felt the quake, with reports coming from locations as far-ranging as Forbes to Sydney and extending south to Batemans Bay.

In Orange, situated approximately 35 kilometers from the quake’s epicenter, residents reported shaking lasting about 30 seconds.

Bruce Reynolds, the Mayor of Blayney Shire and a resident just 12 kilometers from the epicenter, described this earthquake as the most intense he has experienced in the area. “The house shook violently … it felt as if a truck had collided with the building,” Mr. Reynolds recounted.

He noted that his wife was frightened and took their daughter outside during the tremors.

The last notable earthquake in Orange occurred in 2017, with a magnitude of 4.3, which led to a precautionary evacuation of the Cadia mine.

Mr. Reynolds reflected on a previous quake he felt nine years ago, stating that the recent one was significantly more severe. “It has been widely felt across the region and even along the east coast,” he commented. “Numerous houses experienced strong shaking, and my thoughts are with any miners who were underground at the time of the earthquake.”

A spokesperson for Newmont Cadia remarked on the company’s commitment to upholding safe mining practices. “Our sensors detected seismic activity in the area around 8:20 PM, and our safety protocols were effectively activated to protect our workforce,” the spokesperson stated.

Phil Cummins, a seismologist with Geoscience Australia, indicated that aftershocks are likely to follow the initial quake. “Typically, aftershocks will decrease in both magnitude and frequency as time progresses,” he explained.