A 4.7-magnitude earthquake struck near the southern Italian city of Naples on Friday evening, disrupting electricity, rail and metro services and damaging buildings, though authorities reported no immediate fatalities or serious injuries.
Reuters reported that the earthquake struck the Campi Flegrei volcanic area, west of Naples, at 7:46 p.m. local time. Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) said the quake originated at a shallow depth of about 3 kilometres (1.9 miles), intensifying the shaking across the surrounding area.
The tremor prompted residents to leave their homes as a precaution. Local authorities said power outages affected parts of the area, while rail and metro services were suspended or delayed to allow engineers to inspect tracks, tunnels and stations before operations resumed.
Emergency crews were deployed after reports of cracked walls, damaged buildings and falling debris. Civil protection teams inspected homes, schools and public infrastructure, while firefighters responded to calls across the affected area. Officials said no deaths or major injuries had been confirmed, although damage assessments were continuing.
The quake struck the Campi Flegrei supervolcano, one of Europe’s most closely monitored volcanic systems. The area has experienced increasingly frequent earthquakes in recent years because of bradyseism; a phenomenon in which underground magma and gas movement gradually lifts or lowers the ground, triggering seismic activity.
Italian scientists have repeatedly stressed that the increased seismic activity does not currently indicate an imminent volcanic eruption, but the area remains under constant monitoring because of its geological significance and the large population living nearby.
Civil protection authorities urged residents to remain cautious and follow official guidance, warning that aftershocks were possible in the hours following the earthquake.
The latest tremor is among the strongest recorded in the Campi Flegrei area in recent years and highlights the continuing seismic risks facing one of Italy’s most densely populated regions, where authorities have intensified monitoring and emergency preparedness as ground uplift continues.
