A 4.4-magnitude earthquake rattled the Naples area overnight, sending residents into a panic and causing minor structural damage.
Italian authorities confirmed that one person sustained a light injury when a false ceiling collapsed.
The tremor, which struck at 1:25 am at a depth of 2.5 kilometres, was followed by a series of aftershocks, creating what experts call a “seismic swarm.”
Videos circulating online show cars covered in rubble, cracked buildings, and frightened locals rushing into the streets in the dead of night.
Emergency services quickly mobilised, inspecting affected areas, including Bacoli, Bagnoli, and Pozzuoli. In Bagnoli, officials ordered schools to shut for the day and set up waiting zones for residents too scared to return home.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni assured the public that she was closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with relevant authorities.
Seismic activity is nothing new in the Campi Flegrei region, home to Europe’s largest active caldera.
However, many of the 500,000 residents remain on edge, especially after a similar quake in May 2024.
While experts downplay the likelihood of a major eruption, memories of past evacuations still linger.
