Under land 77 kilometer from Maitland in Australia, an unusually powerful M4.8 earthquake occurred around noon of Friday August 23rd, 2024.
Felt the earthquake? Share this article: 
Earthquake Summary
The earthquake struck on land in Australia, 77 kilometer (48 mi) west-northwest of Maitland in New South Wales. The center of this earthquake had a very shallow depth of 10 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.
| Date and Time: | Aug 23, 2024 12:01 (Sydney Time) - Aug 23, 2024 02:01 Universal Time. |
|---|---|
| Location: | 77 km WNW of Maitland, New South Wales, Australia. Coordinates 32°23'6"S 150°50'28"E. |
| Map: |  Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps. |
| Magnitude: | MAG 4.8 Detected by 9 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.103 . |
| Depth: | 10 km (6 mi) A very shallow depth. |
| Tsunami Risk: | Tsunami very unlikely While this was a shallow earthquake, it appears to have occurred under land with a magnitude not strong enough to cause tsunami's. Always stay cautious - More info here. |
Nearby towns and cities
This earthquake may have been felt in Australia . The closest significant population center near the earthquake is Cessnock in New South Wales, Australia. Cessnock is located 69 kilometer (43 mi) northwest of the epicenter.
Multiple large cities are in proximity of today's earthquake. Sydney is located 168 km to the south-southeast. Newcastle is located 107 km to the south-east. Wollongong is located 227 km to the south.
An overview of nearby towns and cities is available in the overview below.
Overview of nearby places
| Distance | Place |
|---|---|
| 69 km (43 mi) SE from epicenter |
Cessnock New South Wales, Australia. |
| 77 km (48 mi) ESE from epicenter |
Maitland New South Wales, Australia. |
| 107 km (66 mi) SE from epicenter |
Newcastle New South Wales, Australia. |
| 134 km (83 mi) SSE from epicenter |
Umina Beach New South Wales, Australia. |
| 144 km (89 mi) N from epicenter |
Tamworth New South Wales, Australia. |
| 147 km (91 mi) S from epicenter |
Cranebrook New South Wales, Australia. |
| 148 km (92 mi) S from epicenter |
Hornsby New South Wales, Australia. |
| 148 km (92 mi) S from epicenter |
Kellyville New South Wales, Australia. |
| 150 km (93 mi) S from epicenter |
Glenwood New South Wales, Australia. |
| 150 km (93 mi) S from epicenter |
Wahroonga New South Wales, Australia. |
| 150 km (93 mi) S from epicenter |
Cherrybrook New South Wales, Australia. |
| 150 km (93 mi) S from epicenter |
Quakers Hill New South Wales, Australia. |
| 151 km (94 mi) S from epicenter |
Castle Hill New South Wales, Australia. |
| 152 km (94 mi) SSE from epicenter |
Saint Ives New South Wales, Australia. |
| 153 km (95 mi) S from epicenter |
West Pennant Hills New South Wales, Australia. |
| 153 km (95 mi) S from epicenter |
Baulkham Hills New South Wales, Australia. |
| 154 km (96 mi) S from epicenter |
Blacktown New South Wales, Australia. |
| 154 km (96 mi) S from epicenter |
Mount Druitt New South Wales, Australia. |
| 156 km (97 mi) S from epicenter |
Seven Hills New South Wales, Australia. |
| 156 km (97 mi) S from epicenter |
Epping New South Wales, Australia. |
| 157 km (98 mi) S from epicenter |
Carlingford New South Wales, Australia. |
| 157 km (98 mi) S from epicenter |
Glenmore Park New South Wales, Australia. |
| 157 km (98 mi) S from epicenter |
St Clair New South Wales, Australia. |
| 158 km (98 mi) S from epicenter |
Eastwood New South Wales, Australia. |
| 158 km (98 mi) SSE from epicenter |
Dee Why New South Wales, Australia. |
| 158 km (98 mi) S from epicenter |
Westmead New South Wales, Australia. |
| 160 km (99 mi) S from epicenter |
Greystanes New South Wales, Australia. |
| 160 km (99 mi) S from epicenter |
Parramatta New South Wales, Australia. |
| 161 km (100 mi) SSE from epicenter |
Chatswood New South Wales, Australia. |
| 161 km (100 mi) S from epicenter |
Ryde New South Wales, Australia. |
| 162 km (101 mi) S from epicenter |
Merrylands New South Wales, Australia. |
| 163 km (101 mi) S from epicenter |
Granville New South Wales, Australia. |
| 164 km (102 mi) SW from epicenter |
Bathurst New South Wales, Australia. |
| 164 km (102 mi) S from epicenter |
Auburn New South Wales, Australia. |
| 166 km (103 mi) SSE from epicenter |
Mosman New South Wales, Australia. |
| 166 km (103 mi) S from epicenter |
Lidcombe New South Wales, Australia. |
| 168 km (104 mi) SSE from epicenter |
Sydney Central Business District New South Wales, Australia. |
| 168 km (104 mi) S from epicenter |
Cabramatta New South Wales, Australia. |
| 168 km (104 mi) SSE from epicenter |
Sydney New South Wales, Australia. |
| 168 km (104 mi) S from epicenter |
Strathfield New South Wales, Australia. |
| 169 km (105 mi) S from epicenter |
Ashfield New South Wales, Australia. |
| 170 km (106 mi) S from epicenter |
Greenacre New South Wales, Australia. |
| 171 km (106 mi) S from epicenter |
Liverpool New South Wales, Australia. |
| 171 km (106 mi) S from epicenter |
Bankstown New South Wales, Australia. |
| 172 km (107 mi) S from epicenter |
Campsie New South Wales, Australia. |
| 172 km (107 mi) S from epicenter |
Marrickville New South Wales, Australia. |
| 174 km (108 mi) SSE from epicenter |
Randwick New South Wales, Australia. |
| 178 km (111 mi) S from epicenter |
Hurstville New South Wales, Australia. |
| 178 km (111 mi) SSE from epicenter |
Maroubra New South Wales, Australia. |
| 191 km (119 mi) WSW from epicenter |
Orange New South Wales, Australia. |
| 227 km (141 mi) S from epicenter |
Wollongong New South Wales, Australia. |
Shaking reported by 125 people
People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 125 people have reported shaking in 21 places, all within Australia.We keep updating this article as more ground reports become available. You may report that you felt this earthquake here.
Places with most reports:
- Sydney, New South Wales, Australia: 25 people.
- Muswellbrook, New South Wales, Australia: 23 people.
- Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia: 16 people.
- Wangi-Rathmines, New South Wales, Australia: 12 people.
- Singleton, New South Wales, Australia: 11 people.
- Richmond-Windsor, New South Wales, Australia: 8 people.
- Forster-Tuncurry, New South Wales, Australia: 5 people.
- Kurri Kurri, New South Wales, Australia: 5 people.
- Katoomba-Wentworth Falls, New South Wales, Australia: 4 people.
- Cessnock, New South Wales, Australia: 3 people.
17 Aftershocks detected
Since this main shock, 17 smaller aftershocks were detected. Just 1 day after this main shock, an earthquake measuring MAG-4.4 was detected 16 km (10 mi) west-northwest of this earthquake.
Overview of foreshocks and aftershocks
| Classification | Magnitude | When | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Shock This Earthquake |
M 4.8 |
Aug 23, 2024 12:01 (Sydney Time) | - |
| Aftershock | M 2.9 |
14 mins later Aug 23, 2024 12:15 (Sydney Time) | 7 km (5 mi) N from Main Shock. |
| Aftershock | M 3.2 |
13 hrs later Aug 24, 2024 01:10 (Sydney Time) | 5 km (3 mi) NNE from Main Shock. |
| Aftershock | M 2.5 |
14 hrs later Aug 24, 2024 02:26 (Sydney Time) | 5 km (3 mi) ENE from Main Shock. |
| Aftershock | M 2.5 |
17 hrs later Aug 24, 2024 04:57 (Sydney Time) | 1.9 km (1.2 mi) NNE from Main Shock. |
| Aftershock | M 2.6 |
21 hrs later Aug 24, 2024 09:13 (Sydney Time) | 5 km (2.9 mi) NE from Main Shock. |
| Aftershock | M 2.8 |
1 day later Aug 24, 2024 13:06 (Sydney Time) | 10 km (6 mi) S from Main Shock. |
| Aftershock | M 2.6 |
1 day later Aug 24, 2024 15:56 (Sydney Time) | 1.8 km (1.1 mi) ENE from Main Shock. |
| Aftershock | M 4.4 |
1 day later Aug 24, 2024 16:31 (Sydney Time) | 16 km (10 mi) WNW from Main Shock. |
| Aftershock | M 2.8 |
1 day later Aug 24, 2024 16:43 (Sydney Time) | 2.8 km (1.7 mi) ENE from Main Shock. |
| Aftershock | M 2.6 |
1 day later Aug 24, 2024 17:33 (Sydney Time) | 4 km (2.5 mi) ENE from Main Shock. |
| Aftershock | M 2.6 |
1 day later Aug 24, 2024 22:57 (Sydney Time) | 6 km (4 mi) NNE from Main Shock. |
| Aftershock | M 3.2 |
2 days later Aug 25, 2024 00:11 (Sydney Time) | 5 km (3 mi) NNE from Main Shock. |
| Aftershock | M 2.5 |
2 days later Aug 25, 2024 01:03 (Sydney Time) | 6 km (4 mi) N from Main Shock. |
| Aftershock | M 2.6 |
2 days later Aug 25, 2024 01:19 (Sydney Time) | 9 km (5 mi) NNE from Main Shock. |
| Aftershock | M 2.5 |
2 days later Aug 25, 2024 03:12 (Sydney Time) | 8 km (5 mi) NE from Main Shock. |
| Aftershock | M 2.5 |
2 days later Aug 25, 2024 16:59 (Sydney Time) | 4 km (2.5 mi) ENE from Main Shock. |
| Aftershock | M 2.5 |
2 days later Aug 25, 2024 20:41 (Sydney Time) | 10 km (6 mi) NNE from Main Shock. |
More earthquakes coming?
Earthquakes can create aftershocks. These are generally at least 1 magnitude lower than any main shock, and as time passes the chance and strength of aftershocks decreases.
In only six percent of cases, significant earthquakes are followed by a larger main shock, making the current earthquake a foreshock. While the chance of this happening is not so large, it is adviced to maintain cautiousness in the hours and days following a major earthquake.
Read: How to Stay Safe during an Earthquake (cdc.gov).This is an unusually powerful earthquake
No earthquake of this strength has struck this region for a long time. Our data goes back 10 years, and no earthquakes measuring a magnitude of 4.8 or higher have been detected within 300 km (186 mi) of this epicenter.
Tsunami very unlikely
While MAG-6.5+ earthquakes may cause tsunami's, it appears that the epicenter of this earthquake hit under land. In addition, the reported depth is deeper than 100km, making the risk of a tsunami even less likely. However always stay cautious and monitor advice from local authorities.
Tsunami Risk Factors
| Factor | Under Sea? | MAG-6.5 or stronger? | Shallow depth? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Explanation | Almost all tsunami's are caused by earthquakes with their epicenter under sea or very near the sea. However stay cautious in coastal areas as earthquakes on land may cause landslides into sea, potentially still causing a local tsunami. | Under MAG 6.5: Very unlikely to cause a tsunami. MAG 6.5 to 7.5: Destructive tsunami's do occur, but are uncommon. Likely to observe small sea level changes. MAG 7.6+: Earthquakes with these magnitudes might produce destructive tsunami's. |
Most destructive tsunami's are caused by shallow earthquakes with a depth between 0 and 100km under the surface of the earth. Deeper tsunami's are unlikely to displace to ocean floor. |
| This Earthquake | Not this earthquake. This earthquake appears to have struck on land far from any coast. |
Not this earthquake. This earthquake had a magnitude of 4.8. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami. |
This earthquake occurred at a depth of of 10 km (6 mi). Earthquakes this shallow could trigger a tsunami. |
Sources
Last updated 17/09/24 03:08 (). This article is automatically generated based on available data. We keep checking multiple sources for additional information. This article gets updated as new details on this earthquake become available.
- US Geographic Society (USGS): Earthquake us7000n8w7
- European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC): Earthquake 20240823_0000017
- Geonames.org: World Cities Database
- Google Maps: Static API
- Earthquakelist.org: Historic Earthquakes Database
Share this article:
