Magnitude 4.5 earthquake strikes NSW Central West, felt across large areas
Consensus Summary
A magnitude 4.5 earthquake struck near Orange, New South Wales, on April 14, 2026, at around 8:20pm AEST, with its epicenter located south of Orange and near the Canobolas State Forest, approximately 5 km deep. The quake was felt across a vast area, spanning over 400 km from Forbes to Sydney and as far south as Batemans Bay, with over 2,000 reported felt reports. Houses in Orange, 35 km north of the epicenter, shook for about 30 seconds, marking the largest earthquake on record in the region. The previous notable quake in Orange occurred in 2017 with a magnitude 4.3. Geoscience Australia confirmed the event and noted the likelihood of aftershocks, while Newmont Cadia assured that safety protocols protected its workforce. Local officials, including Blayney Shire Mayor Bruce Reynolds, described the quake as violent and more intense than past tremors, with residents reporting fear and structural movement.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- A magnitude 4.5 earthquake struck near Orange, NSW, at approximately 8:19–8:20pm AEST on Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
- The epicenter was about 5 km deep, located south of Orange and near the Canobolas State Forest, east of the Cadia gold mine.
- Over 2,000 people reported feeling the earthquake, with tremors spanning from Forbes to Sydney and as far south as Batemans Bay (approximately 400 km).
- Houses in Orange (35 km north of the epicenter) shook for about 30 seconds.
- The previous record earthquake felt in Orange occurred in 2017, with a magnitude 4.3 quake.
- Geoscience Australia confirmed the quake as the largest on record in the region and expects aftershocks to occur.
- Newmont Cadia detected seismic activity at 8:20pm and confirmed safety procedures ensured the workforce’s safety.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- The depth of the earthquake was explicitly stated as 5 km by Geoscience Australia.
- Blayney Shire Mayor Bruce Reynolds (12 km from the epicenter) described the quake as violent, comparing it to a truck hitting the house, and noted his wife and daughter were scared.
- Reynolds experienced the 2017 earthquake and said Tuesday’s quake was much worse.
- Geoscience Australia seismologist Phil Cummins stated aftershocks would decrease in magnitude and frequency over time.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- No contradictions found between the two sources on core factual claims.
Source Articles
Magnitude 4.5 earthquake rocks NSW
NSW has been rocked by a magnitude 4.5 quake that has shaken houses for 30 seconds.
Breaking: Magnitude-4.5 earthquake felt across large parts of NSW
The NSW Central West has been hit by the largest earthquake ever recorded in the region.