ROME (Reuters) – A 4.4 magnitude earthquake struck near Naples in southern Italy early on Thursday, causing damage to buildings and prompting residents to evacuate into the streets. The earthquake hit at 1:25 a.m. (0025 GMT) with its epicenter close to the coastal town of Pozzuoli, situated to the west of Naples, according to Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV). This tremor, equal in intensity to one that occurred in May, is the strongest since the early 1980s, when a series of seismic events caused damage and panic in the same region. Although small earthquakes are common in this densely populated area near the Campi Flegrei super volcano, locals described this as one of the most severe in recent memory. “I was asleep, and then I heard an incredibly loud noise, unlike anything I’ve ever heard before,” said Raffaele Cipollano. “It was a terrifying moment. When I finally got up and turned on the lights, I saw that my house was filled with cracks, they were everywhere.” Emergency teams rescued an individual from a partially collapsed building, authorities confirmed. The region experienced several minor aftershocks, heightening anxiety among residents. Some individuals forcibly entered a former NATO base in Bagnoli to seek shelter. Power outages were reported in parts of Naples, leading many families to spend the night outdoors or in their vehicles, fearing further tremors. Italy is prone to earthquakes, with one of the most devastating being a 6.9 magnitude quake in the Irpinia area in November 1980, which resulted in the deaths of 2,734 people, injuries to over 8,800, and the destruction of more than 300 municipalities.
