The Northern Times
  • News
  • Lifestyle
  • Culture
  • People
  • What’s happening
  • Economy
  • Opportunities
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Lifestyle
  • Culture
  • People
  • What’s happening
  • Economy
  • Opportunities
No Result
View All Result
The Northern Times
No Result
View All Result

Another earthquake hits Friesland, likely caused by gas extraction

by The Northern Times
February 24, 2020
in Uncategorized
Home

Residents in Surhuisterveen felt the quake on Saturday evening

Translated by Thomas Ansell

The location of the quake itself was actually in the province of Groningen, by the village of Opende (Grootegast), which is just outside of the gas-extraction zone. However, it is exceptionally close by to a number of smaller wells in Friesland, and the KNMI (Royal Dutch Meteorological Association) has confirmed that it is an ‘induced’ quake, rather than tectonic.

The depth of the quake suggests that it was caused by gas extraction; it hit 3 km underground. Seismologist Läslo Evers from the KNMI told the Omrop Fryslan that Opende has been hit by quakes before; in 1999 and 2003. The area does suffer from reasonably regular quakes, but not as much as the areas in Northern Groningen, which have been hit by multiple quakes in the last few years, causing significant damage.

Separately, a local pressure group has called for an end to all gas-drilling in Friesland. Oebele Veenstra, who represents the group which is against all gas extraction around Smallingerland (Drachten), said “in Groningen the tap is being turned off, but in Friesland it is only going to continue.”

Whilst the quake in Opende did not result in any damages being reported, Veenstra says that that’s no reason to be positive: “it is not only about damage, but also a feeling of safety. Stop drilling for gas in our province.”

As reported by the Omrop Fryslan, the group will continue to take its grievances to the authorities, and may even end up at the ‘Raad van State’; the guidance council that represents the role of the Monarchy within the Dutch political system. The Council may then give semi-binding advice to the Dutch government to discontinue gas-extraction in Friesland.

Image via the KNMI

Tags: earthquakegas drillinggas extractionGroningen

Related Posts

The Northern football clubs’ monthly round-up: August
Sports

The Northern football clubs’ monthly round-up: August

August 28, 2023
FC Groningen: A Fallen Giant Lifted by Its Supporters
Sports

FC Groningen: A Fallen Giant Lifted by Its Supporters

August 16, 2023
Dutch women’s football team roars into the World Cup
Sports

Dutch women’s football team roars into the World Cup

July 19, 2023

Popular News

  • More explosions rock Groningen province

    More explosions rock Groningen province

    396 shares
    Share 158 Tweet 99
  • Groningen Market Day arriving with its biggest market to date

    357 shares
    Share 143 Tweet 89
  • Donar: From the brink of extinction to the season opener

    348 shares
    Share 139 Tweet 87
  • University of Groningen facing financial trouble

    346 shares
    Share 138 Tweet 87
  • Registrations open for career event for internationals in the North

    365 shares
    Share 146 Tweet 91
The Northerntimes is powered by: TopDutch

No Result
View All Result
  • Arts
  • Contributors
  • Covid-19 News
  • Covid Chronicles
  • authority
  • personal
  • photo reportage
  • professional
  • Crime
  • Culture
  • Drenthe
  • Dutch history
  • Econ 050
  • Economy
  • Education
  • Eurosonic Noorderslag
  • Friesland
  • Groningen
  • Health
  • Lifestyle
  • Make it in the North
  • National
  • News
  • Nightlife
  • Opinion
  • Opportunities
  • Education
  • People
  • Expats
  • International students
  • Politics
  • Shopping
  • Sports
  • submitted articles
  • Top Dutch Business
  • Travel
  • Typical Dutch
  • Ukraine
  • Uncategorized
  • What’s happening
  • World

Welcome Back!

OR

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

Submit a article

Send in an article to be published on The Northern Times.

Send a news tip

Got a story idea or want us to be aware of anything?