THE HAGUE, Dec. 30 -- Gas extraction in Groningen in 2013 caused a record number of earthquakes, Dutch national broadcaster NOS reported on Monday.

This year a total of 127 earthquakes were measured, compared to 80 quakes in 2012. This coincides with a significant increase in gas production. The Dutch Petroleum Company (NAM) collected 52 billion cubic meters of gas from the ground in 2013, 10 percent more than last year.

Experts expect a new earth quake record in 2014. In January this year the State Supervision of Mines (SSM) reported that increased gas production since 2000 of about 20 up to 50 billion cubic meters per year has not only led to a rise in the number of earthquakes but also to an increased risk of severe earthquakes.

The heaviest earthquake in recent years in Groningen was on August 16, 2012, near Huizinge, with a magnitude of 3.6 on the scale of Richter.

The study of SSM showed that the number of earthquakes is not expected to decrease in the short term. Only with a very drastically reduction of the gas or even a stop, it is expected after several years virtually no perceptible earthquakes will occur in the Groningen gas field.

According to the NOS, the Dutch government may take a decision on a possible reduction of getting gas in Groningen next month.