Groningen residents massively claiming immaterial damages through earthquakes

A total of 8 thousand Groningen residents reported to tenants' organizations and De Woonbond over the past year for help in filing a claim for non-material damage because gas extraction earthquakes in the area disturbed their living enjoyment, De Woonbond announced on Friday, NU.nl reports.

The Groningen residents will be assisted in their claim by De Haan Advocaten & Notarissen​. The firm previously successfully assisted other Groningen residents in a similar case.

In March last year, the court held NAM liable for the immaterial damage 127 Groningen residents suffered due to earthquakes. The court considered it proven that the fracking earthquakes in the area negatively affected the living enjoyment of the residents living around the Groningen gas fields.

Gas extraction regularly cause earthquakes in Groningen. Following a strong earthquake in Zeerijp in January, the government decided to gradually reduce gas production in the province to zero.