An earthquake measuring 2.8 on the Richter scale hit the north-east of Groningen on Tuesday night, causing some minor structural damage.

The quake, at around 03.30 hours, centred on the town of Loppersum, where natural gas is extracted from reservoirs deep underground and quakes are common. The town’s mayor Albert Rodenboog told RTL news he woke up and ‘the whole house was shaking’.

Three investigations into the direct of cause of the Groningen quakes and their impact on locals are currently underway. Many people are concerned about the effect on the value of their property.

Gas extraction company NAM has said it will take steps to prevent damage to vulnerable buildings and is looking at ways to extract gas with less far-reaching effects. It describes the risks as ‘acceptable and manageable’.

NAM has had 9,100 reports of damage to homes in the region over the past year, RTL news said.