It was the 23rd of February this year when a force 4 earthquake hit the federal state of Saarland in the West of Germany. An area which is well know for it’s heavy industry and coal mining.Coal mining has been a mainstay of German industry for more than 100 years and the Saarland is the second most important coal producing area in Germany. The mines have been driven down to depths of up 1300 meters and a high quality coal strata of between 35 and 60 meters has been extensively excavated over the decades.
This has left a large area which has been tunneled through and, of course, has left the area unstable. And it is general knowledge, that it was the effects of coal mining which was the cause of the quake. Although this one was not heavy, in comparison to “natural” earthquakes, it did leave extensive minor damage on buildings throughout the area.
Citizens and especially homeowners have been protesting against the coal mines for some years, as the area has been prone to quakes for some time. It was this quake which provoked the coal mine owners to stop production and send the workers home. Politicians are now considering stopping mining operations completely.
No Rating Tags: Coal Mining, Earthquake, Saarland
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