Magnitude 4.4 Earthquake Shakes Regional NSW Town of Boorowa

Melbourne, March 11: A magnitude 4.4 earthquake has shaken the regional New South Wales town of Boorowa, with thousands of residents across the state reporting they felt the tremor.

According to Geoscience Australia, the earthquake struck at 7:09pm on Wednesday evening at a depth of approximately 12 kilometres.

More than 5,000 people reported feeling the quake. Monitoring stations in Young, Mount Stromlo, Ulladulla, Wollongong and even Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory detected the tremor.

The ABC reported that residents in Boorowa, located about 113 kilometres north of Canberra, experienced a short but noticeable jolt lasting only a few seconds.

One resident told the broadcaster the shaking felt sudden and intense.

“It felt like a truck hit the building,” the resident said, describing how the ground shook beneath them.

Despite the noticeable tremor, there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage, and no tsunami warning was issued.

Residents described the event as a quick but strong shake that lasted only moments.

“It was only a split second. It just went ‘boom’, a quick little shake,” another resident said, adding that nothing fell from shelves and there was no visible damage.

Many locals shared their experiences online. On the Boorowa Community Notice Board on Facebook, one user wrote: “Yes, it was the worst and loudest I have ever felt.”

Another resident commented that they initially thought their caravan might tip over due to the sudden movement.

Seismology Research Centre chief scientist Adam Pascale said earthquakes of this size are not unusual in the Boorowa region.

“It’s a pretty active area in that region,” Mr Pascale told ABC Radio Sydney. “The tremor could be felt over 100 kilometres or more from the epicentre, potentially even as far as Sydney if the conditions are right.”

Experts say small earthquakes occur occasionally in the area, although they rarely cause significant damage.

-ABC