Thousands of Aussies shaken awake by 3.4 magnitude earthquake near Singleton, NSW
- An earthquake hit the Hunter region
- READ MORE: Hunter Correctional Centre offers inmates 'communal-style living'
A 3.4 magnitude earthquake has rocked residents in NSW's Hunter region.
The quake struck at 5.18am on Tuesday at a depth of 2km, directly below the Bulga open-cut coal mine, 15km southwest of Singleton.
Up to 21 felt reports were recorded in Singleton and nearby Broke as locals woke to the early morning tremors.
It is the latest event in a series of similar earthquakes across the region in recent months.
There were 50 shakes recorded between August and November last year.
One of August's tremor was the biggest earthquake to hit parts of the NSW Hunter region in 50 years.
The 5.0-magnitude quake shook the town of Denman at 12.02pm and prompted theories coal mining in the region was causing the activity.
A 3.4 magnitude earthquake has rocked residents in NSW's Hunter region
The quake struck at 5.18am on Tuesday at a depth of 4km
'It's a little smaller than the Newcastle earthquake, and there was another one 5.3 (magnitude) in 1994,' UNSW geophysicist Stuart Clark said of the event.
'The cause is compressional forces across the continent but the trigger is potentially coal mining.'
Local federal MP Dan Repacholi urged residents struggling with ongoing insurance issues to seek help following Tuesday's earthquake.
'Another earthquake for the Hunter this morning. 3.4 magnitude at around 5:20am,' he posted online.
'Right near the Bulga and Mount Thorley Warkworth mines. If anyone has any issue with insurance claims, make sure you reach out.'
