A 4.5-magnitude earthquake struck near Orange in central west New South Wales on Tuesday evening, prompting the evacuation of 153 workers from the Cadia goldmine. The quake, which occurred at a depth of 5km at 8.19pm, was felt hundreds of kilometres away, with its epicentre located just 3km from the mine's tailings dam.
According to an internal Newmont announcement, all underground personnel were accounted for and safely returned to the surface. The miners moved to refuge chambers before being debriefed. Mine rescue teams executed a structured re-entry and rescue plan, and no injuries were reported.
The Blayney shire mayor, Bruce Reynolds, who lives near the epicentre, described the quake as 'like an explosion under the house.' John Clemens, owner of the Forest Reefs Tavern, said the building 'leant one way and then came back' as windows and glasses rattled. No damage was reported at the tavern.
Underground operations at the mine have been paused pending a safety assessment. The NSW premier, Chris Minns, stated that there is no information linking the earthquake to mining activity. Dr Phil Cummins of Geoscience Australia noted the difficulty in determining any connection due to uncertainties in seismic network locations.
Newmont confirmed that safety procedures functioned effectively and that updates on production impacts will be provided if applicable. The company emphasised that worker wellbeing remains the top priority.
