Naples hit by earthquake causing landslides as school and university evacuated

Daily Record

13-05-2025

Panic swept through Naples as a powerful earthquake rocked the region, triggering evacuations, landslides, and building collapses.
A 4.4 magnitude earthquake has struck near Naples in Italy, sending tremors across the city and neighbouring Pozzuoli.
The quake, which hit just after midday at a shallow depth of around 2km, was the most powerful in a seismic swarm that followed, including quakes measuring 3.5 and 2.1.
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With tremors felt across the city and fears rising over volcanic activity beneath the Phlegraean Fields, authorities are on high alert, reports the Mirror.
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Terrified residents fled into the streets after but there were no immediate reports of injuries, but one uninhabited building partially collapsed in Pozzuoli, prompting emergency services to cordon off the area.
Local train services were suspended and several landslides were reported, including near Monte Gauro, close to an Air Force Academy.
Authorities evacuated 500 pupils from a local school and students from a university campus as a precaution.
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"A major seismic swarm is underway," the mayor of the city of Pozzuoli wrote on X.
Gigi Manzoni said it had "inevitably frightened the population" but urged everyone "to remain calm, to remain in open spaces - this is a time of great anxiety".
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'There are no critical issues at the moment,' the major said, adding that building inspections were ongoing.
Elderly couple Matteo and Rita, aged 86 and 83, said they felt a "mild tremor" before "glasses fell over" following the earthquake.
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They told local media: 'First there was a mild tremor, then a very strong one. The floor didn't stop moving. Glasses and flower holders fell. We're staying here, it will never end anyway'.
The region sits above the volatile Phlegraean Fields, a vast supervolcano that has shown signs of increased seismic activity in recent weeks. Officials said ground uplift has reached 1.5cm but stressed there's no current sign of escalation.
Naples was previously struck by a 4.4-magnitude quake in March that caused only minor damage and sent 11 people to hospital.
The quake was the strongest in recorded history around the Phlegrean Fields, a sprawling area of ancient volcanoes that covers a broad swath of the Naples metropolitan area.