Suche
Mein Konto
50 years ago: Göttingen shaken by a mysterious earthquake!
On June 23, 1975, an earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale struck Göttingen, caused by mining activities in the GDR.
50 years ago: Göttingen shaken by a mysterious earthquake!
On June 23, 2025, we will look back at an event that stirred the minds of the people of Göttingen exactly 50 years ago. On June 23, 1975, at 2:17:50 p.m., the earth shook in the university town of Göttingen with a magnitude of 5.2 on the Richter scale. In a region not known for seismic activity, this earthquake caused excitement. The reason? The cause lay in the GDR.
At that time, people in Göttingen experienced moving desks and erratic seismographs in the Institute for Geophysics. And while there was no damage in Göttingen, the picture in the surrounding area was completely different. In Sünna, a small town near the epicenter, there was a panicked atmosphere. Pots tipped, furniture moved and some buildings were damaged. The reports from contemporary witnesses describe tearful scenes and severe damage, including to the village church. Officially, the GDR leadership spoke of a “mountain strike” and “earthquake-like tremors,” but there were suspicions: the neighboring Unterbreizbach potash mine could be responsible for the quake.
The potash mine in Unterbreizbach
The Unterbreizbach potash mine has a long history, but also dark chapters. Today it is the only remaining potash mine in the Thuringian part of the Werra-Fulda potash district. Most recently, the mine was in focus after a tragic gas outbreak. This incident occurred in Shaft II on Tuesday afternoon, shortly after 1 p.m., with a dangerous mixture of salt dust, rock dust and carbon dioxide quickly filling the mine's cavities. Tragically, the incident claimed the lives of three miners, aged 24, 50 and 56.
The CEO of K+S, Norbert Steiner, was shocked by the disaster. Although small gas eruptions were not uncommon in the past, caution was always urged. Blasting in mines doesn't just happen, but only between shifts when the workforce is not in the shaft. The area's geology, shaped by former volcanic activity, poses its own risks, as carbon dioxide can be stored in cavities, posing a risk of asphyxiation.
Earthquake in Germany
Around 4,600 earthquakes occur in Germany every year, but these are mostly small in nature. The latest statistics show that one quake of magnitude 0.2 was recorded in the last 24 hours and a total of 27 quakes of magnitude 2.1 were recorded in the last seven days.
On average, seismic activity in Germany remains relatively low. If we look back over the last 55 years, earthquakes of magnitude 5 or greater only occur about once every five to ten years. In 2025, the regions of Saxony and Bavaria were particularly active, with Chemnitz and Gera as cities that recorded the most earthquakes.
Looking back, the 1975 earthquake in Göttingen and the tragic story of the Unterbreizbach potash mine remain a haunting reminder of the risks that lie hidden beneath our feet. Remembering these events raises awareness of the forces of nature and the responsibility we owe to people in these often dangerous jobs. For everyone who lives and works in the region, the message is clear: There is a lot to consider, because there is something going on - underground and in the air.