A powerful earthquake of magnitude 4.4 struck near Naples in southern Italy early on Thursday, causing widespread damage and forcing locals to flee into the streets. The epicentre was located near Pozzuoli, west of Naples.
The quake occurred at 1:25 a.m., with similar tremors occurring last May. This was the strongest earthquake since the early 1980s, when a series of seismic events damaged homes and sparked panic in the area.
“It was a very bad moment,” said Raffaele Cipollano, who experienced the quake while sleeping. “I had never heard one so loud. When I got up, my house was full of cracks.”
Emergency teams rescued one person from the rubble of a partially collapsed house, and several minor aftershocks were felt in the region, adding to concerns among residents.
In Naples, power outages were reported, and many families chose to remain outdoors or in their vehicles overnight. The earthquake is the latest in a series of seismic events that have affected Italy in recent years.
Italy experiences frequent earthquakes, but this was one of the most severe in recent times. The region’s Campi Flegrei super volcano is particularly prone to seismic activity, and authorities are urging residents to remain vigilant.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/buildings-damaged-overnight-quake-hits-naples-southern-italy-2025-03-13