Exploiting groundwater causing earthquakes?

The exploitation of groundwater has contributed to an earthquake in southeastern Spain last year that killed nine people, according to a new study published today by geologists.

This result adds solid evidence to the theory that some earthquakes are caused by humans, according to researchers.

The 5.1 magnitude earthquake occurred in the town of Lorca in Spain 17 months ago, causing 9 deaths and more than 100 injuries.

Researchers have found evidence that this disaster is the result of groundwater being sucked up to meet people's needs, according to AFP.

The Lorca earthquake left 9 people dead, 100 injured

The amount of lost water caused changes in stress in the earth's crust along a broken line and was enough to cause cracking, causing earthquakes.

The results are published in Nature Geoscience, which emphasizes the impact of human activities on seismic collisions.

The research team led by Dr. Pablo Gonzalez of Western Ontario University (Canada) used satellite data to redraw the deformation of the ground due to the Lorca earthquake.

The results show that it correlates with changes in the earth's crust caused by the decline in natural groundwater levels over the past five decades.

Since 1960, the natural groundwater level in the area has decreased by about 250 meters, according to researchers.

The results suggest that 'human activities may affect the way and the time of an earthquake'.

In an accompanying commentary, Professor Jean-Philippe Avouac of the California Institute of Technology (USA) writes: 'We should be cautious with the stresses caused by human stress. We know how to cause earthquakes but it's still far from being able to control them. '