Naples, Italy, was hit by a 4.4-magnitude earthquake early Thursday, causing minor damage and sending 11 people to the hospital, officials reported. The quake marked the strongest on record in the Phlegrean Fields region, an area of ancient volcanoes that spans across Naples. Residents were shaken awake by the tremors and sought safety in the streets, reminiscent of a quake in the same area last May.
The earthquake, centered offshore from Pozzuoli, a seaside suburb of Naples, resulted in loosened stone and cement from some buildings. Mayor Gaetano Manfredi stated that one church, a seven-story residential building, and another structure were deemed unsafe due to damage. Inspectors were assessing buildings for further harm, with some schools closed as a precaution.
A total of 11 individuals sought medical treatment, including one woman injured by a falling ceiling and others with glass cuts from shattered windows. Seismologists have noted increased activity in the Phlegrean Fields region, prompting authorities to conduct emergency drills last summer.
The area is known for both seismic and volcanic activity, with over half a million residents living in high-risk zones. The National Institute for Geophysics and Vulcanology has urged a government plan to ensure structures can withstand a magnitude 5.0 quake. Despite the heightened activity, experts stress the unpredictability of potential eruptions or stronger earthquakes.
During a seismic event in 1984, 40,000 residents were evacuated as a precaution against an expected eruption, which did not materialize.
