A magnitude 3.4 earthquake was recorded near Appin, south-west of Sydney, at about 1pm on Friday.
According to preliminary data from Geoscience Australia, the earthquake occurred at a very shallow depth of only a few kilometres. Its proximity to the surface may explain why the tremor was clearly felt across several surrounding communities despite its relatively low magnitude.
Hundreds of people reported feeling the earthquake. Some residents said their homes shook for approximately five seconds, accompanied by a noise unlike that normally caused by heavy vehicles travelling through the area.
“It lasted long enough for me to register that something was shaking, but not long enough for me to immediately realise it was an earthquake,” one local resident said.
Some homes reportedly creaked in a way similar to the effect of a strong gust of wind during a storm.
No injuries or property damage have been reported at this stage. Earthquakes of magnitude 3.4 are generally considered minor and rarely cause significant structural damage.
The Appin and Douglas Park area has experienced seismic activity before, with several minor to moderate earthquakes recorded in recent years. Some of those tremors were also felt across Sydney’s southern suburbs and the Illawarra region.
Authorities will continue monitoring the situation and collecting reports from residents who felt the earthquake.
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