The number of damage reports following the double earthquake near Assen has risen to 450. A spokesperson for the Mining Damage Commission (de Commissie Mijnbouwschade) confirmed this total on Tuesday. This figure represents a significant increase since Monday, when the count stood at only 226 claims. In total, authorities have already recorded ten reports of “acutely unsafe situations,” though subsequent inspections found that immediate emergency measures were not required.
Affected regions
Most reports originated from Assen, which accounted for 356 claims. Additionally, the commission received 43 reports from Midden-Drenthe and 39 from Aa en Hunze. Furthermore, a few claims arrived from Tynaarlo, Groningen, and Noordenveld, alongside several other municipalities. Because the earthquakes occurred near the provincial border, many residents accidentally reported damage to the Groningen Mining Damage Institute (IMG) instead of the correct commission.
Details of the tremors
The initial earthquake occurred on Friday night near the hamlet of Geelbroek. It measured 3.0 on the Richter scale, making it the strongest tremor in Drenthe for over 25 years. A magnitude 1.3 aftershock followed just a few hours later. Geelbroek is situated near the Eleveld gas field. While the larger Groningen gas field is being closed, smaller fields like Eleveld remain active, which experts believe is causing the increased seismic pressure.
@ anp | NEWS BRAINPORT
