More earthquakes expected in Hungary due to harmful human activity

In the quadrangle of Szarvas-Kondoros-Mezőberény-Gyomaendrőd (Békés County), 99 earthquakes were registered last week. And that number is expected to rise further, according to Attila Aszódi, a professor at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME).

In his article published on portfolio.hu, he explained how harmful human activities result in earthquakes in Békés County, SE Hungary. He added that earthquakes of magnitude 4 occur in Hungary every decade. But nearly a 100 within just one week is concerning. Oddly, they break out in small depths (6-8-10-20 km). Some politicians said such earthquakes endanger the operation of the Paks nuclear power plant. Aszódi assured the readers that earthquakes in Békés County do not affect Paks, which is 150 km away, at all.

Nevertheless, he said that in Békés County, certain human activities might trigger tremors from within the earth. Firstly, the Corvinus project could be a culprit, which is on a mission to increase domestic gas and oil production. Secondly, several geothermal energy projects will start soon in Békés County. The professor said the earthquakes should be taken as warning signs for everyone.

Read also:

• VIDEO: Hungarian mother and her 5-year-old stuck in the earthquake-hit zone – click HERE for more
• VIDEO: Earthquake in East Hungary