The first house declared uninhabitable because of earthquakes in Groningen was demolished on Friday.

The family house was in Bedum, close to the area of the province hardest hit by gas extraction. The owners were evacuated at the beginning of the year and gas extraction company NAM later bought the house.

Last year, NAM moved out two other families in other villages and bought a large farmhouse in another.

This year, the Bedum family was moved, followed by a woman from Harkstede. In May, several families in Garrelsweer were offered alternative accommodation.

Research

Government mining inspectors are pressing NAM for new research into the earthquakes that affect the province following a government decision to decrease gas extraction around Loppersum, the worst hit area, but increase it elsewhere.

Speed is essential because the government is planning to increase gas extraction in other Groningen fields.