Emergency crews freed 36 trapped cinema goers in Bathurst and no fatality was reported, police said. However, rescue and medical teams put different figures of tapped people.
According to the authorities, ceiling of the Bathurst Metro Cinema collapsed at 12:45 pm (local time), trapping movie watchers, media reports said.
No causality was reported in the collapse, but some people suffered injuries.
According to Fire and Rescue workers say 16 people were trapped, but Ambulance NSW said the figure was 46.
A massive storm that lasted only 20 minutes dumped enough rain to collapse the roof of the cinema complex, reports said.
Emergency services sifted through rubble with thermal imaging cameras in an attempt to see if anyone else was left inside.
Ambulance spokesman Craig Pusser said a treatment centre has been set up near the area and Bathurst, and Orange hospitals had been put on alert.