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The earth shook near Aachen on Saturday morning.
According to the Geological Service of North Rhine-Westphalia, the quake at 7:36 a.m. had a magnitude of 2.8.
Such a quake occurs in the Lower Rhine Bight about once a year, said the head of the state earthquake service, Klaus Lehmann.
The first damage to buildings is to be expected roughly from a magnitude of 4.5 to 4.8.
"So that's still a long way off from what we had today," said Lehmann.
The quake occurred according to the information at a depth of about ten kilometers.
With a tremor with a magnitude of 2.8 you can feel a strong shock, said Lehmann.
“So that you feel moved in your bed.
Or the dishes in the cupboards clink and jingle.
Light parts on the table can vibrate and move.
All of that can happen. ”Building damage or other damage is not to be expected at this level.
“You have nothing to fear from this earthquake,” says Lehmann.
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The Geological Service NRW received numerous reports from citizens on Saturday morning.
“The people were frightened,” Lehmann stated.
“That is also because it was breakfast time and we are in lockdown.
That means people are mostly at home and are relatively calm.
And of course those are such opportunities that one is very sensitive to such events. "
Relatively high earthquake hazard west of Cologne
According to the Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Aid (BBK), the area west of Cologne has a relatively high earthquake hazard by German standards.
On April 13, 1992 there was a 6.0 magnitude earthquake near the Dutch border town of Roermond.
In the old town of Bonn, part of the facade of a house crashed onto a parked car.
In Cologne Cathedral, a 1.50 meter stone ornament hit the ground.
At that time, more than 30 people were injured in the Rhineland, mainly through falling chimneys and roof tiles.