Damage reports rise to 593 after Zeerijp earthquake, 25 cases may be unsafe

Damage reports following one of Groningen’s strongest earthquakes in years have surged to 593, more than doubling the previous total of 246, the Institute for Mining Damage Groningen (IMG) reported.

Among the new notifications, 25 were flagged as potentially “acute unsafe situations.” Some of these cases have already been inspected, and in two instances, measures were necessary to ensure safety.

The earthquake struck on Thursday and measured 3.4 on the Richter scale, with a 2.1-magnitude aftershock. The epicenter was located near Zeerijp, northeast of the city of Groningen. Experts attribute the tremors to years of natural gas extraction in the region.

Historical records show that Zeerijp has experienced multiple significant earthquakes, including a 3.4-magnitude tremor on January 8, 2018. The current quake ranks among the ten strongest in Groningen since 2006.