Many residents in and around Naples, Italy, spent the night outdoors or in their vehicles after an earthquake shook the region, causing structural damage and debris to fall.
Seismologists reported that the 4.4 magnitude quake struck at 01:25 local time (00:25 GMT) on Thursday. The tremor, originating at a shallow depth of 3 km (two miles), occurred along the coast between Pozzuoli and Bagnoli.
The earthquake was widely felt across Naples, with some areas experiencing power disruptions. However, Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) confirmed that there were no signs indicating an imminent eruption of Mount Vesuvius.
In Bagnoli, near the epicentre, a woman sustained minor injuries after being rescued from a partially collapsed home.
Naples sits atop the Campi Flegrei, a volcanic caldera that makes the area prone to seismic activity. Thursday’s tremor matched the intensity of a quake in May 2024 and was the strongest recorded in the Campi Flegrei region in four decades. It was followed by at least six weaker aftershocks.
Fearing further tremors, many people evacuated their homes and gathered in the streets. Structural damage included a damaged church bell tower and shattered car windscreens.
A resident of Pozzuoli expressed concern on Italian television, suggesting that recent seismic activity over the past two years appeared different from previous patterns. Along the coast, Bacoli’s mayor, Josi Gerardo Della Ragione, acknowledged the difficulties of the night but confirmed no significant damage to the town.
Officials reported that Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was closely monitoring the situation and staying in direct communication with her colleagues.
To ensure safety, schools in various areas remained closed on Thursday to allow authorities to assess structural stability.
The Campi Flegrei caldera, believed to have formed tens of thousands of years ago following a major eruption, is home to over 800,000 residents. Authorities have expressed concern about the accelerating pace of “bradyseism,” a geological phenomenon that causes ground-level changes.
According to Francesca Bianco from INGV, the land’s uplift rate has recently tripled, increasing from 1 cm to 3 cm per month. Edoardo Cosenza, a civil protection official in Naples, emphasised the importance of recognising these changes, stating on social media, “We understand this pattern, and we must remain aware.“
