Earthquake in Coffs Harbour felt in Port Macquarie, Wauchope, Camden Haven and King Creek

Geoscience Australia report a 4.2 magnitude earthquake struck near Coffs Harbour at 1.28pm this afternoon (January 24).

They estimate it could have been felt by people up to 76 kilometres away and damaged property as far away as Kempsey.

People contacted the Wauchope Gazette to say they felt it in Timbertown estate, Pead Street, Bain Street, High Street, Riverbreeze, Clareville, Rodlee, the Wauchope pool area, Gowrie Road, Blackbutt Drive, Fairmont, Wauchope RSL, Commerce Street, Rocks Ferry Road.

It was also felt at Rollands Plains, King Creek, Beechwood, Comboyne, Huntingdon, Ellenborough, Long Flat, Sancrox,  Rosewood, Kindee, Pappinbarra, Gum Scrub, Yippin Creek, Bellangry, Telegraph Point, Rawdon Island, Mount Seaview and Byabarra, as well as Port Macquarie and the Camden Haven.

Some readers described how it affected them, on the Wauchope Gazette Facebook page.

Sharon Wurm was at bingo in the Wauchope RSL Club.

“The whole room felt it at the RSL club, and my son said the doors were rattling at Rosewood,” she said.

Deb Mullard from Burrawan Drive said it was louder than a truck.

“It moved the house all right...bit scary,” she said.

Julie Keena said she heard a big rumble at King Creek.

Jenny Avery said it shook her house in Pappinbarra, and Diane Howe said it shook her place at Gum Scrub.  

Jenny Drage said she felt it at Rollands Plains, where it shook the house.

“At Mount Seaview, heard the rumble, then the house shook.  Dogs went crazy,” wrote Jo Mackenzie.

At Long Flat, Jennifer Coombes said it shook the house.

Esme Waldron said she didn’t notice a thing but about 20 DVDs fell off the sideboard.

Kay Hilberts lives in Weismantle Street.

“Felt the house vibrate, like when we get a big semi drive past sometimes,” she said.

Kerry Lopresti said she felt her house shake at King Creek.

Earthquake experts say tremors are unlikely to stop.

A series of minor earthquakes shook South West Rocks and Stuarts Point at the weekend.

Speaking to Fairfax Media, senior seismologist at Geoscience Australia Hugh Glanville said it is unlikely the quakes will stop any time soon.

“We don’t know if that will happen, but there’s always a chance so we always like to encourage people to get educated,” he said.

“Given the current activity residents are likely to feel more earthquakes occurring as there’s no reason for us to suspect that activity will stop. While it’s rare and none of these earthquakes have been big, there is always a chance that a bigger earthquake can occur.”

Although there is currently NO tsunami warning in place, the SES have a comprehensive guide on such an event. You can view that here.