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3.4 Quake Rattles Groningen, Third-Strongest on Record

Despite the gas field’s shutdown last year, scientists say seismic activity will taper slowly and stronger tremors remain possible for years.

Overview

  • The early-morning earthquake struck near Zeerijp in the northern Dutch province, according to the KNMI.
  • Authorities reported no injuries and initially received about 66 damage reports, mostly to houses.
  • Prime Minister Dick Schoof voiced deep concern and linked the tremor to decades of gas extraction in the region.
  • KNMI says the frequency and strength of quakes should gradually fall, yet more powerful events cannot be ruled out in the near future.
  • Residents and the Groninger Bodem Beweging warn many homes are still not fully reinforced, and experts note the shallow, roughly 3-kilometer depth increases damage potential.