Magnitude 3.2 Earthquake Shakes Großenkneten, Germany: Gas Extraction Suspected

A magnitude 3.2 earthquake struck Großenkneten, Lower Saxony, Germany, on April 1, 2025, at 14:33 local time. The quake's epicenter was located 17 km south of Oldenburg, with a shallow depth of 4 km. The Lower Saxony Earthquake Service is investigating the event.Reports indicate the earthquake was felt within a 30-70 km radius, with some isolated reports from as far as 217 km away. Most reports came from Wardenburg, Oldenburg and Großenkneten.The State Office for Mining, Energy and Geology (LBEG) suspects a link between the earthquake and natural gas extraction in the Hengstlage area, which has been ongoing since the 1960s. Gas extraction can cause underground stress, potentially leading to tremors when released. ExxonMobil is the contact for damage claims. A similar earthquake occurred near Syke in March 2024, with a magnitude of 3.6.