Strongest tremors in 40 years: Another strong earthquake in Naples – concerns about megavolcano

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A new earthquake has shaken the region around the southern Italian city of Naples. The magnitude 4.0 earthquake occurred on Monday evening in the so-called Phlegraean Fields, the Italian Civil Protection explained in the online service X, formerly known as Twitter.

This is a hugely active volcanic area west of Vesuvius. There was no damage or injuries, but the earthquake caused panic among residents, so civil defense continued.

Three kilometers below Naples

According to the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV), the epicenter of the earthquake was at a depth of about three kilometers between the cities of Naples and Pozzuoli.

A series of earthquakes have occurred in the Phlegraean Fields in recent days. A magnitude 4.2 earthquake was recorded there on Wednesday – the strongest quake in the area in 40 years.

The last major volcanic eruption in the Phlegraean Fields occurred in 1538. A major eruption 30,000 years ago is thought to have contributed to the extinction of the Neanderthals. Today, half a million people live in the region.

The outbreak would have devastating consequences

Experts are already sounding the alarm: Italian volcanologist Giuseppe Mastrolorenzo goes one step further: the situation could be worse than expected.

It is entirely possible that the earthquakes are a harbinger of a larger super-eruption. But that’s not all: according to the researcher, such an eruption would be ten times as strong as the eruption of Mount Vesuvius above Pompeii in 79 AD.

Mastrolorenzo therefore calls for better rescue plans. The researcher complains that there is currently no idea how residents would be evacuated in the event of an eruption. (AFP/neo/dzc)

Source: Blick