The number of damage reports as a result of last Friday’s Groningen earthquake has risen to 593 the Mining Damage Institute Groningen (IMG) Saturday. This concerns a doubling of the number of reports compared to Friday. 25 reports were also made about a possible Acutely Unsafe Situation (AOS). Some of these reports have already been investigated by the IMG, two of which required quick measures. A telephone reporting point of the IMG will remain open this weekend.
In the night from Thursday to Friday, the village of Zeerijp became the epicenter of an earthquake with a magnitude of 3.4. According to the KNMI, this was the third strongest earthquake ever measured in the province of Groningen – and the strongest earthquake this year.
Gas is still being extracted in small fields, which can cause earthquakes. Years of gas extraction in Groningen have also created pressure differences, which can cause vibrations and fractures to lead to earthquakes. Zeerijp has often suffered from earthquakes due to gas extraction in the past. King’s Commissioner René Paas told the ANP news agency on Friday that it could take weeks before the full damage is assessed.
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