An unusually strong quake struck LKAB's mine in Malmberget on Christmas Day, measuring 2.7 on the company's local scale. The tremors were distinctly felt in nearby Gällivare, where residents reported shaking houses and rattling dishes. Work in the affected hanging wall has been temporarily halted pending an investigation.
On Christmas Day, December 25, 2025, shortly before 2 p.m., a strong quake was recorded in LKAB's mine in Malmberget, near Gällivare in Norrbotten. According to LKAB, the magnitude was 2.7 on the company's local scale, tailored for mining-related vibrations and differing from the traditional Richter scale. Uppsala University's seismic network reported a magnitude of 3.2.
Ulrika Huhtaniska, LKAB's press officer, described the event as one of the largest vibrations or settlements measured to date. "It is one of the larger seismic events we have ever had," she told TT. The quake occurred in the Gunilla hanging wall, a mine section that did not affect roads, infrastructure, or areas with personnel. Nevertheless, the tremors were strongly felt above ground in Gällivare, where residents like Tim reported that "glasses and dishes in the cupboards started rattling." He was about to shovel snow but instead had to reassure his worried daughter.
Earlier that night, at 00:13, a smaller quake of magnitude 1.49 struck the same area. LKAB has halted loading operations in the hanging wall to allow the rock to stabilize and has initiated an investigation into the cause. No damage to personnel or property was reported, but the event raised concerns among locals accustomed to minor blasts but not such intense vibrations.
LKAB's local scale is used to more accurately measure the specific conditions of mining, unlike the Richter scale designed for natural earthquakes at greater distances. The company emphasized that the quake posed no immediate danger, but it highlights the challenges of seismic activity in ore-rich regions like Norrbotten.
