A 4,4 magnitude earthquake struck the volcanic region of Campi Flegrei and the city of Naples in the early hours of Thursday (13). The tremor caused panic among residents, who ran into the streets.
The epicenter was recorded off the east coast of Pozzuoli at a depth of 2,5 kilometers, according to Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV). The quake was followed by a series of smaller tremors.
Damage and response from authorities
Italy's Civil Protection Agency said initial assessments indicated minor damage to infrastructure and 11 injured people were taken to hospital.
Images shared on social media showed cars covered in debris and frightened residents. Hundreds of calls were registered by local authorities in the aftermath of the quake.
Fear among residents
“It looked like a bomb,” a resident told the website. Tgcom24. Another resident said he was unable to return home due to fear of further tremors. A man from Bagnoli said: “We can’t sleep anymore. We are scared.”
As a precautionary measure, schools in Pozzuoli and Bagnoli will remain closed on Thursday. The mayor of Bacoli, Josi Gerardo Della Ragione, asked the population to remain calm and advised them to follow official updates.
Increasing seismic activity
Naples Mayor Gaetano Manfredi compared the earthquake to the one in May 2024, but with an epicenter closer to the city, which heightened his perception. According to him, “there was a moment of panic, but then everything calmed down.”
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said she was monitoring the situation and in contact with local authorities.
The Campi Flegrei region, home to around 500 people, is a volcanic caldera that has seen an increase in seismic activity in recent years due to the phenomenon of bradysm, characterized by the vertical movement of the ground caused by variations in the volume of underground magma.
Risk of eruption
INGV reported that the current phase of bradysism intensification is similar to those that occurred in August 2023 and May 2024, but stated that “there are no signs of an imminent eruption”.
The volcano's last eruptive event occurred in 1538. Scientists have, for now, ruled out an immediate risk of an eruption, as there is no evidence of magma rising to the surface.
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