As of: March 25, 2024, 3:23 p.m
By: Marcel Prigge
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A magnitude 3.6 earthquake shakes Bassum.
Natural gas production could be the cause.
The quake was also felt 30 kilometers away.
Bassum – On Monday afternoon, Bassum in the Diepholz district was shaken by a magnitude 3.6 earthquake.
The effects were felt far and wide.
Parts of Bremen and the Verden district were also affected by the tremors.
According to reports from witnesses, the tremors lasted quite long, lasting up to 20 seconds, and were accompanied by a loud, bang-like noise.
According to experts, this was one of the strongest earthquakes in recent years.
Magnitude 3.5: Earthquake felt in Bassum, Syke, Bremen, Verden and Delmenhorst
A magnitude 3.6 earthquake shakes Bassum.
The quake was even felt in Bremen.
(Symbolic image) © Imago/Nonstopnews
The earthquake is said to have been caused by natural gas production in Bassum.
As the State Office for Mining, Energy and Geology (LBEG) confirmed when asked by kreiszeitung.de, a “connection with local natural gas production is likely”.
In recent years, an earthquake has already been measured that may have been caused by natural gas production.
It is “one of the strongest earthquakes in Lower Saxony in the last ten years,” reports a spokesman for the LBEG.
The epicenter of the earthquake is around 3 kilometers south of Syke.
Minor damage was also reported, but no personal injuries were reported.
Earthquakes caused by natural gas production are caused by changes in tension within the earth.
Gas production creates cavities in the rock, which are normally slowly closed by the pressure of the rock above.
However, sometimes this happens abruptly, resulting in earthquakes.
Earthquake in Lower Saxony: Shortly before Christmas, a magnitude value of 2.4 was recorded in Harpstedt
The last major earthquake occurred in Harpstedt shortly before Christmas.
With a magnitude of 2.4, the buildings would have shaken a little.
In this case too, natural gas production in the region was suspected to be the cause.
There had also been a loud bang beforehand.