75 damage claims after Groningen earthquake

The Nederlandse Aardolie Maatschappij (NAM, Dutch Petroleum Company) has received 75 damage claims after the earthquake in Groningen early this morning. These include reports of cracks in walls and damage to plaster. The earthquake measured 2.8 on the Richter scale and was caused by natural gas extraction. The epicenter was in Woudbloem in the Slochteren municipality. "Your home should be your safe place. If it is not, it creates anxiety and makes you restless." said Mayor Geert-Jan ten Brink of Sloctheren to NOS on Tuesday. According to the mayor, in addition to damage to buildings and houses, it is especially important to take not of how people are affected by this experience. "People have a lot of difficulties because of this, that should not be underestimated. Damage repair is possible, but what it does to people, that is just as important." According to Mayor Ten Brink, the government in The Hague should slow down the gas extraction and take more preventative measures on the houses. "People in Groningen should be able to live as safely as in the rest of the Netherlands", he said. This morning's quake was one of the strongest this year. There had been 5 earthquakes with a magnitude of 2.5 or higher. The strongest earthquake was on February 13th with a magnitude of 3.0 on the Richter scale in Leermens in the municipality Loppersum.