Devastating Earthquake in Naples: Residents Forced onto Streets

Naples has endured a devastating 4.4 magnitude earthquake, forcing residents onto the streets. The quake, lasting about 20 seconds, caused panic and structural damage, with extensive rescue operations underway in affected areas like Pozzuoli and Bagnoli. The Prime Minister is monitoring the situation closely as the community copes with the aftermath.

Naples has experienced one of the most significant earthquakes in the last four decades, compelling residents to seek refuge on the streets. The 4.4 magnitude tremor struck around 1:25 AM on Thursday, with a preceding loud roar that terrified many. This significant quake lasted approximately 20 seconds, followed by successive tremors that persisted for nearly two hours, impacting broad areas surrounding the city.

The quake originated approximately 2.5 kilometers (1.55 miles) beneath Pozzuoli city, according to data from the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV). In response to the disaster, firefighters worked diligently to rescue terrified residents, including saving an injured woman trapped under the debris of her collapsed home in Pozzuoli. In the neighboring Bagnoli district, rescuers assisted individuals trapped in their residences, while many others emerged from their windows, as reported by the news agency ANSA.

This earthquake follows a similar event recorded in May, marking this incident as one of the most potent to affect the region in recent years. Both earthquakes had their epicenter in the Phlegraean Fields of Pozzuoli, a region precariously situated atop Europe’s largest active volcanic caldera, which houses approximately 500,000 residents within the Mount Vesuvius danger zone. Viral videos and images shared on social media depicted extensive damage, with cars buried under debris and structural cracks evident in buildings as residents fled.

In response to the crisis, local authorities closed down schools in Bagnoli and arranged waiting areas for displaced citizens seeking temporary shelter. Firefighters continued to conduct inspections across Bacoli, Bagnoli, and Pozzuoli to ensure public safety. Simultaneously, Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni acknowledged her active monitoring of the situation and maintaining communication with local authorities.

Historically, the Phlegraean Fields experienced a cataclysmic eruption 40,000 years ago, noted as the strongest event in the Mediterranean region. While seismic activity led to mass evacuations in the 1980s, experts assert that a significant eruption is unlikely to occur soon.

The recent earthquake in Naples has deeply affected the city, resulting in residents fleeing to the streets in fear and significant infrastructural damage. With ongoing rescue efforts and governmental oversight, authorities aim to ensure public safety amidst this challenging situation. The geological context of the Phlegraean Fields raises historical concerns, yet experts deem a major eruption improbable in the near future.

Original Source: www.independent.co.uk