Earthquake survivors in Naples camp out due to sustained seismic activity, as a 4.4 magnitude earthquake shakes the city once more.
Naples residents and its nearby areas scrambled away from their homes, setting up camp in parks and cars amidst a 4.4 magnitude earthquake that rocked the Italian city in the wee hours of Thursday. Waves of tremors in Campi Flegrei, located to the west of Naples, around 1.30 a.m. local time left homes damaged and debris littering streets. Around fifteen individuals were rushed to hospitals as per local authorities.
Over the past month, the region has seen a surge in seismic activity with over 1,813 earthquakes and tremors ranging between 0.3 to 3.9 magnitude recorded in February alone. This pace increased over the last week, with nearly 300 quakes, some between 2 to 3 magnitude, detected.
This seismic chaos unfolds across a broad caldera that originated from the eruption of the Campi Flegrei super volcano around two million years ago. Spanning 125 miles under the Bay of Naples, the caldera encompasses the city's western limits and extends to the islands of Capri and Ischia. The hardest-hit area is the Campi Flegrei 'red zone,' inhabited by an estimated half a million people.
The Italian Fire Brigade, Red Cross, and INGV (National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology) extended aid to those spending the night outdoors, fearing aftershocks. To ensure safety, local schools were closed on Thursday.
Despite the alarming situation, the INGV asserts that there's no immediate danger of eruption from Mt. Vesuvius or the Campi Flegrei super volcano, both currently dormant. Mt. Vesuvius, renowned for burying Pompeii in 79 A.D., is unlinked to the current seismic activity, according to the INGV. resting on the opposite side of Naples from Campi Flegrei.
The caldera is at present undergoing positive bradyseism – a phenomenon causing ground to rise, inducing cracks in structures. Giuseppe De Natale, a research director at the INGV in Naples, explains that the pressure building beneath the Earth's surface could either be magma intrusion or degassing from the magma chamber 8 kilometers below ground.
In 1984, when the area experienced "positive bradyseism," the ground rose by 3.5 meters (11.5 feet) before descending. As a response to this turbulence, some local eateries rolled out "seismic discounts," offering customers a 17% reduction for a 1.7 magnitude trembler. Peppe Minieri, owner of A' Scalinatell restaurant, pledged a free meal to those who remain seated during the quakes, admitting his offer was intended to lighten the situation.
However, there's mounting concern for the safety of locals, with vulcanologists suggesting permanent evacuation of the 'red zone'. Though experts dismiss an imminent eruption, the seismic swarms worry residents, especially considering the absence of an effective evacuation plan for the 500,000 people residing in the 'red zone.'
In the distant past, the super volcano erupted in 1538, resulting in a new coastal bay. While the authorities assure the populace that an eruption isn't imminent, the continuing seismic commotion is a source of worry, especially given the lack of a comprehensive evacuation strategy.
- The seismic activity in Campi Flegrei, a caldera spanning under the Bay of Naples, has increased significantly over the past month, with a high percentage of earthquakes and tremors recorded, causing concern among vulcanologists.
- Despite the Italian Fire Brigade, Red Cross, and INGV providing aid, the ongoing seismic chaos has led to discussions about the permanent evacuation of the 'red zone,' where half a million people reside, due to the absence of an effective evacuation plan.
- TheCampi Flegrei super volcano, responsible for the creation of the Caldera, is currently showing signs of degassing, with pressure building beneath the Earth's surface, raising concerns about potential earthquakes and the long-term safety of the region.
