Alarming theory about NSW earthquake

According a geophysicist the 4.7 earthquake in Denman could have been triggered by one simple factor.

The 4.7 magnitude earthquake that rocked the town of Denman in NSW could have been caused by coal mining in the area, according to an expert.

The quake, which shook homes and sparked panic, was recorded at 12.02pm on Friday with reports of tremors as far south as Sydney, 171km away.

There were no reports of serious injuries but chimneys collapsed and some residents suffered power outages.

The quake hit directly underneath BHP’s Mt Arthur Coal mine.

A few miners were reported to have suffered minor injuries.

The quake was the biggest since a 5.4 magnitude quake hit Newcastle in 1989, killing 13 people.

Goods lay strewd inside shops after the quake hit. Picture: Facebook

Damage reported in Muswellbrook after the quake. Supplied

Now a geophysicist has said the potential trigger for the quake could be coal mining.

Stuart Clark, from UNSW, said: “It’s a little smaller than the Newcastle earthquake, and there was another one 5.3 (magnitude) in 1994.

“The cause is compressional forces across the continent but the trigger is potentially coal mining.”

He warned aftershocks could be felt for a few days.

Muswellbrook Shire Council mayor Steven Reynolds said he was lying in bed when his house shook hard.

“I tell you what, I thought the roof was coming down on me,” he said.

“You couldn’t miss it, it was big.

“We have the blasts here from the mines and I immediately knew it was nothing like that.

“I thought for sure it was an earthquake and there could have been some severe damage.”

Mayor Reynolds said they were still getting aftershocks and there had been three so far.

“There was one directly after the earthquake, and another two since then,” he said.

A power outage hit an area in South Musswellbrook as a result of the earthquake which was quickly restored.

Originally published as Alarming theory about NSW earthquake