Magnitude 4.7 Earthquake Rattles Phlegraean Fields Near Naples; Eight Injured

A magnitude 4.7 earthquake shook the Phlegraean Fields, a volcanic caldera near Naples, Italy, on Friday evening, leaving at least eight people with minor injuries and causing structural damage. The seismic event, which occurred at 7:46 PM local time, is the strongest recorded in the region in four decades, according to Italy's Civil Protection Department.

The tremor led to the collapse of a building facade in Pozzuoli and caused falling cornices and plaster in Pozzuoli and Bagnoli, though no residents were harmed. Widespread power outages affected areas from Pizzofalcone to Fuorigrotta, and emergency services received numerous calls for elevators trapped in buildings and reports of minor collapses.

The earthquake's effects were felt strongly on the islands of Procida and Ischia, causing alarm among residents. Social media quickly filled with videos of frightened people in the streets. The Phlegraean Fields area, home to half a million people, is currently experiencing 'bradyseism,' a phenomenon involving ground level changes due to underground gas and magma accumulation.

In response to the quake, the mayor of one affected municipality ordered the activation of the Civil Protection Municipal Operations Center. Following the event, railway traffic in the Naples hub, including high-speed lines, was suspended to allow for technical inspections of the infrastructure. Road inspection protocols were also activated by Anas for the sections it manages.