In brief
Following a magnitude 4.4 earthquake in Naples, residents faced a night outdoors as buildings shook and debris fell. School closures were announced as officials conducted stability checks amid concerns over seismic activity in the Campi Flegrei region.
Many residents in Naples, Italy, spent the night outdoors or in their cars after a nighttime earthquake rattled buildings and left debris scattered across the city. At 01:25 local time (00:25 GMT) on Thursday, a 4.4 magnitude tremor struck just off the coast between Pozzuoli and Bagnoli at a shallow depth of 3 km (two miles). The quake was strongly felt throughout Naples, disrupting power in several areas.Italian seismologists from the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) reported that there were no immediate signs of an eruption from the nearby Campi Flegrei volcano, calming fears of an impending disaster. However, a woman was rescued with minor injuries from a house that partially collapsed in Bagnoli, where the tremor's impact was most severe.This earthquake is noted as the most powerful in the Campi Flegrei area in 40 years and was felt across multiple regions in Campania. Residents reported leaving their homes in fear of further quakes, as the powerful tremor was akin to a significant quake that occurred in May 2024. Many even witnessed damage to community infrastructure, including a local church's bell tower, while several cars had shattered windscreens.In the town of Pozzuoli, local residents expressed concerns over the recent patterns of tremors, suggesting a different phenomenon might be at play. Bacoli’s mayor, Josi Gerardo Della Ragione, characterized the night as challenging but confirmed that his town had not experienced any substantial damage.Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is actively monitoring the situation and is in close contact with local officials. Schools across the area were closed to ensure safe building checks in the aftermath.The Campi Flegrei basin, home to over 800,000 people, is currently under scrutiny due to rising "bradyseism" rates, which refer to ground movements that can cause changes in surface elevation. Francesca Bianco of INGV commented on the alarming increase in ground uplift rates, noting it has tripled recently. Edoardo Cosenza, a civil protection councillor in Naples, emphasized the need for vigilance as these rates rise, indicating the potential for future seismic activity.
