Italy Hit by Strongest Earthquake in 40 Years, Residents Flee Outdoors

A powerful 4.4-magnitude earthquake struck Italy’s Naples and surrounding areas early Thursday morning, marking the strongest tremor in four decades. The quake hit at 01:25 am local time near the town of Pozzuoli in the Campi Flegrei region, which is known for its seismic activity. According to the Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV), the tremor occurred at a shallow depth of three kilometers. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) measured it as a 4.2 magnitude earthquake at a depth of ten kilometers.

The quake left people in a state of panic, with the residents running out into the streets. Most people took shelter in their vehicles, sleeping outdoors for the night. The loud rumble of the quake was followed by strong jolts, resulting in power outages and visible damage to various places. Buildings were destroyed, debris was scattered everywhere, and a car had its windscreen shattered. In Pozzuoli, a woman was rescued when half of her house collapsed. Rescue teams were still working in Bagnoli district, where residents were trapped inside their homes, with some managing to escape via windows.

Aftershocks struck in the aftermath of the initial quake, raising fears of further seismic activity. The local authorities subsequently ordered schools in Pozzuoli, Bagnoli, and Bacoli to close on Thursday to do safety checks on the buildings. Bacoli Mayor Josi Gerardo Della Ragione called upon residents to remain calm and look to official releases.

Naples, perched on top of the Campi Flegrei volcanic caldera, is not new to seismic activity. The area has witnessed an increase in such occurrences in recent times, which scientists speculate could be due to bradyseism, a phenomenon of ground movement due to underground magma chambers. The last volcanic eruption in the Campi Flegrei region took place in 1538.