Dutch Groningen region hit by 3.4 magnitude earthquake

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) -A 3.4 magnitude earthquake hit the Groningen region in the north of the Netherlands early on Friday, Dutch meteorology institute KNMI said.

No injuries were reported.

The quake was the most severe in years to hit Groningen, where decades of gas production have led to dozens of minor tremors every year.

Production at what was once one of Europe's major natural gas fields was permanently halted two years ago to limit the seismic activity that has damaged thousands of buildings over the years.

The end of production is expected to limit the risk of severe quakes in the future, but it will probably take decades for seismic activity to completely subside, Dutch mining authority SodM said on Friday.

(Reporting by Bart Meijer; Editing by Kate Mayberry)