A 4.4-magnitude earthquake struck Naples early Thursday, causing minor damage and sending 11 people to the hospital. The quake was centered just offshore from Pozzuoli, a seaside suburb bordering Naples.
Residents were shaken awake by the temblor and sought safety in the streets. While some buildings suffered minor damage, including a church and a residential building, others remain safe.
Inspectors are checking for further damage, with Mayor Gaetano Manfredi stating that structures will be closely monitored. One woman was injured after part of her ceiling fell, while several others suffered cuts from broken glass.
The area around the Phlegrean Fields is seismically and volcanically active, with a recent increase in activity reported over the past few weeks. Authorities have conducted drills in preparation for a major emergency, but it’s impossible to predict when an eruption or stronger quake might occur.
At least 500,000 people live in the zone most at risk of a volcano eruption. Italy’s national institute for geophysics and vulcanology has called for a governmental plan to ensure structures can withstand a quake of at least magnitude 5.0.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/italy-naples-quake-phlegrean-fields-volcano-3d6b83d13d91bdafa3ecc4469ac24886