According to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Center (EMSC), the quake occurred at 1:16 am, 20 kilometers north-northeast of Groningen and 10 kilometers west of Delfzijl, at a depth of 3 kilometers. An aftershock with a magnitude of 2.1 was felt at 6:39 am on Friday morning.
Until 12 noon on Friday, the Institute for Mining Damage Groningen received 66 reports from people who suffered damage from the earthquake. In addition, dozens of people called the organization. Twelve residents reported an Acutely Unsafe Situation.
Jan Bosma (75) has been living in a temporary home on the edge of the village for just two weeks. His own house can no longer be saved. “It’s completely finished.” That’s why he is now clearing out his house with his son. Last night he woke up from the blow. “You’re quite shocked. I’ve experienced others, but this one is a bit more intense.”
“I was lying on the bed. It went all the way back and forth,” says Pieter Fokkens (59). When he was downstairs this morning he felt the second shock. “The cupboard was cluttering. And later I’ll take a quick walk around the house. Check to see if any cracks have appeared.”
On X, many people from Groningen report something about the earthquake near Zeerijp. The reports come from Appingedam, Delfzijl, Kantens, Uithuizermeeden, ‘t Zandt, Wirdum and Loppersum, among others.
‘It’s vibrating well again’
“That was a while ago, shaking in bed #earthquake”; “Holy shit! Was that an earthquake or an explosion?” and “Earthquake in Delfzijl? It’s shaking well again”, are some reports on X.
Someone from Godlinze reports: “Was this an earthquake???? Really scary, the house was shaking like crazy. #godlinze #earthquake It’s almost the heaviest thing I’ve experienced.” A resident of Delfzijl: “OMG… shaking in my bed.” Another on X: Another earthquake due to gas extraction in Loppersum. This was great folks! Our new house was shaking on its foundations!”
According to the KNMI, this is an induced earthquake. This means that the earthquake is related to gas extraction in the region. A spokesperson for the Groningen Safety Region reported around 6:45 am that no reports had yet been received. This is still the case around 8 a.m. He cannot yet say anything about possible damage.
Heaviest quake in three years
This earthquake was the heaviest in Groningen since October 2022 in Wirdum. It had a magnitude of 3.1. So far this year, including Zeerijp, there have been four earthquakes with a magnitude of 1.5 or higher. Last year there were a total of six earthquakes in the Groningen gas field with a magnitude of 1.5 or higher. The heaviest (also induced) earthquake was in Garsthuizen (2.2).
‘End of hope that tremors will stop’
King’s Commissioner (CdK) René Paas says that the earthquake has “in one fell swoop put an end to the hope that stopping gas extraction would prevent major earthquakes.” He calls it a hard blow for the residents of Groningen and the surrounding area.
Paas reports that it will take weeks before the damage is visible. “The promise was that the handling of the damage and the implementation of the reinforcement would become gentler, more humane and easier. This is a moment to prove that,” said the commissioner.
“The previous serious blow at Zeerijp, in January 2018, ultimately led to the decision to stop gas extraction,” Paas continues. According to him, last night’s earthquake, which had a magnitude of 3.4, made it abundantly clear how necessary that decision was. “But unfortunately the risk has not gone away. The effects of gas extraction have long lasting effects in Groningen.”
Groningen gas field closed in April last year
The Groningen gas field was permanently closed in April last year. However, this does not yet make it safe in Groningen, as stated on the website of State Supervision of Mines (SodM). The earthquakes will continue for “some time.”
“There is a small chance (1 percent) that there will be an earthquake with a magnitude of 4.0 or higher, but this chance is decreasing,” the regulator said. The KNMI reports that the number of earthquakes will decrease if gas extraction is stopped, but according to the weather institute this could take many years.