Reuters, C (2015,March 1). Bells toll for Europe’s largest gas field. Retrieved on March 1,  2015. from http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/business/bells-toll-for-europe-s-l/1688000.html

 

Netherland’s biggest gas field, Groningen, has been in continuous production sice 1963. The neighboring town of Westerwijtwerd is home to many historical building and artifacts, like the 13th-century Maria Church. Ever since 2000 this bigger and bigger cracks in the old church’s walls have been growing, along with the number and frequency of earthquakes.

Before the year 2000 this area of Netherlands had never experienced an earthquake before, the bells were only used to signal a coming flood, now the inhabitants must prepare for wither of the two natural disasters. Geologists are extremely confident that this spike in earthquakes is linked to the increase in fracking; many do not think that the builds can withstand much more trauma.