Major Earthquake Strikes Naples, Forcing Residents into Streets Amid Safety Concerns

Naples was recently hit by one of its most intense earthquakes in the past 40 years, compelling frightened inhabitants to spend the night outdoors. Residents described hearing a loud roaring sound moments before the quake struck at approximately 1:25 a.m. on Thursday, jolting the city and surroundings awake. Although the main earthquake had a magnitude of 4.4 and lasted about 20 seconds, a series of aftershocks continued to shake the area for around two additional hours.

The earthquake originated approximately 2.5 kilometers beneath the coastal city of Pozzuoli, situated west of Naples, according to Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV). Rescue teams acted promptly, particularly after a woman was injured following the collapse of her home's ceiling in Pozzuoli. Nearby, in the district of Bagnoli, rescue efforts were also underway as authorities assisted trapped individuals, with some residents even escaping through windows.

This seismic event matches the magnitude of a quake that took place last May, marking these tremors as among the strongest episodes Naples has experienced in recent decades. The epicenter in both cases lies within the well-known Phlegraean Fields in Pozzuoli, located atop Europe's largest active volcanic caldera. The region remains under close observation due to around half a million people residing near the active danger zone of Mount Vesuvius.

Images and videos circulating on social media platforms demonstrated the scale of the earthquake's impact, showing widespread debris on cars, cracks in buildings, and frightened people on Naples' streets during early hours. City officials responded by closing schools in Bagnoli and creating makeshift shelters for citizens.

Italy's emergency services remain busy coordinating relief efforts across the affected communities, including Bacoli, Bagnoli, and Pozzuoli. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has confirmed she is actively tracking the situation closely and remains in contact with local emergency and civic authorities. Experts have pointed out that while seismic activity in this zone previously led to large-scale evacuations during the 1980s, a substantial volcanic eruption is currently considered unlikely.