Earthquake shakes Naples region, causing disruptions and minor damage

A magnitude 4.7 earthquake jolted the Campi Flegrei region near Naples, southern Italy, on Friday evening, causing disruptions and minor damage. The tremor, recorded at 7:46 p.m. local time, had its epicenter about three kilometers deep in the volcanic area west of Naples.

The earthquake led to power outages and significant disruptions to train and metro services, with local authorities preemptively halting operations. While the Italian fire department reported minor damage to buildings in Naples and surrounding towns, no immediate interventions were required for rescue or assistance.

Italian media described the event as one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded in the Campi Flegrei area. Residents in some districts reportedly rushed into the streets as they felt the ground shake. The region, a densely populated volcanic area, has experienced an increase in seismic activity in recent years, prompting heightened monitoring by Italian authorities.

This recent strong tremor has amplified concerns about a potential repeat of the seismic crisis experienced in the early 1980s, which forced thousands to evacuate. Italy, situated in a seismically active zone, has a history of devastating earthquakes, including the 2016 event in central Italy that killed around 300 people and the catastrophic 1980 Irpinia earthquake that claimed approximately 2,700 lives.