Latest news with #Pozzuoli
The Independent
13-05-2025
- General
- The Independent
Naples hit by 4.4 magnitude earthquake in ‘major seismic swarm'
A 'major seismic swarm' of earthquakes has hit Italy 's Naples region, causing panicked residents to flee into the streets for the third time in a year. A 4.4 magnitude earthquake struck the volcanic area of Campi Flegrei around Naples in southern Italy at 12.07 pm, at a depth of three kilometres, according to Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology. It was preceded by two earthquakes of a 2.1 magnitude and followed by a 3.5 quake 15 minutes later. The tremors were felt in Naples and neighbouring Pozzuoli. The mayor of Pozzuoli, Gigi Manzoni, described the succession of earthquakes as a 'major seismic swarm', adding: 'I immediately ordered all local police patrols to take to the streets. '[These are] strong earthquakes that inevitably scared the population. I invite everyone to calm down, to stay in open places, these are moments of great learning.' An elderly woman living in the Campi Flegrei area described hearing 'a very loud bang' as the earthquakes started. Rita, 83, told Italian outlet Rai: 'I heard a loud bang and then the floor wouldn't stop moving. First, there was a milder shock, then a very strong one. Glasses and flower holders fell.' Schools were evacuated as a precaution, with Mr Manzoni announcing that he had ordered local authorities to inspect the schools for any damage. 'I demanded maximum accuracy and timeliness,' he said. 'The safety of our kids comes first.' The Naples metro and the city's cable car were also temporarily suspended. There have been no reports of injuries. It was the third time in a year that the area had been hit by a 4.4 magnitude earthquake. In March, an earthquake lasting around 20 seconds shook the area in the early hours, injuring multiple people. Firefighters worked through the night to rescue panicked residents, pulling an injured woman from the rubble of her home after the ceiling collapsed in Pozzuoli. Elsewhere in the neighbouring Bagnoli district, rescuers freed trapped residents, while others climbed out of their windows, news agency ANSA reported. Last May, another quake hit the city of the same magnitude. It was the strongest earthquake in the area in four decades. The area is Europe's largest active caldera. The hollow was created after the volcanic eruption of Campi Flegrei roughly 40,000 years ago, which was the most powerful in the Mediterranean to date. It stretches from the outskirts of Naples into the sea, measuring some 7.4 by 9.3 miles. The area is populated by 500,000 people. There was a mass evacuation of Pozzuoli in the early 1980s following a resurgence of seismic activity. Specialists, nonetheless, maintain that a full-blown eruption in the near future remains unlikely.
Daily Mail
13-05-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Earthquake and 'major seismic swarm' hits Naples as mayor appeals citizens for calm
A 4.4 magnitude earthquake struck the volcanic area around Naples as part of a 'major' quake swarm on Tuesday, sparking fear but no immediate reports of damage. The tremor hit the Campi Flegrei area in southern Italy at 12:07 pm, at a depth of three kilometres, according to Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology. It was preceded by two quakes of 2.1 magnitude, and followed by one of 3.5 magnitude 15 minutes later. 'A major seismic swarm is underway,' wrote Gigi Manzoni, the mayor of the city of Pozzuoli near Naples, on social media. He said it had 'inevitably frightened the population' but urged everyone 'to remain calm, to remain in open spaces - this is a time of great anxiety'. He said he had deployed local police to the streets. The Naples metro and the city's cable car were suspended as a precaution, local media said, but there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries. Firefighters said they were carrying out checks on the stability of buildings. Seismic activity is nothing new in the area, which is Europe's largest active caldera - the hollow left after a volcanic eruption. It stretches from the outskirts of Naples into the sea, measuring some 12 by 15 kilometres (7.4 by 9.3 miles). But many of the 500,000 inhabitants living in the danger zone have been spooked by larger than usual quakes in the past year. A 4.4 magnitude quake on March 13 caused several light injuries and damage to some buildings, 10 months after another similar tremor in May 2024 - which was the biggest for 40 years. 'We continue to monitor (the situation) minute by minute, but we must avoid alarmism - the data does not indicate worrying developments,' INGV director Mauro Di Vito told the AGI news agency. The volcanic eruption of Campi Flegrei 40,000 years ago was the most powerful in the Mediterranean. A resurgence of seismic activity in the early 1980s led to a mass evacuation which temporarily reduced Pozzuoli to a ghost town. Specialists, however, say a full-blown eruption in the near future remains unlikely.
CNA
13-05-2025
- Climate
- CNA
Latest quake sparks fear around Italy's Naples
ROME: A 4.4 magnitude earthquake struck the volcanic area around Naples as part of a "major" quake swarm on Tuesday, sparking fear but no immediate reports of damage. The tremor hit the Campi Flegrei (Phlegraean Fields) area in southern Italy at 12.07pm (6.07pm, Singapore time), at a depth of 3km, according to Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV). It was preceded by two quakes of 2.1 magnitude, and followed by one of 3.5 magnitude 15 minutes later. "A major seismic swarm is underway," wrote Gigi Manzoni, the mayor of the city of Pozzuoli near Naples, on social media. He said it had "inevitably frightened the population" but urged everyone "to remain calm, to remain in open spaces - this is a time of great anxiety". He said he had deployed local police to the streets. The Naples metro and the city's cable car were suspended as a precaution, local media said, but there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries. Firefighters said they were carrying out checks on the stability of buildings. Seismic activity is nothing new in the area, which is Europe's largest active caldera - the hollow left after a volcanic eruption. It stretches from the outskirts of Naples into the sea, measuring some 12 by 15km. But many of the 500,000 inhabitants living in the danger zone have been spooked by larger-than-usual quakes in the past year. A 4.4 magnitude quake on Mar 13 caused several light injuries and damage to some buildings, 10 months after another similar tremor in May 2024 - which was the biggest for 40 years. "We continue to monitor (the situation) minute by minute, but we must avoid alarmism - the data does not indicate worrying developments," INGV director Mauro Di Vito told the AGI news agency. The volcanic eruption of Campi Flegrei 40,000 years ago was the most powerful in the Mediterranean. A resurgence of seismic activity in the early 1980s led to a mass evacuation which temporarily reduced Pozzuoli to a ghost town.
