Thu Mar 13 19:07:00 UTC 2025: **4.4 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Naples, Italy; Minor Damage Reported**
NAPLES, ITALY—A 4.4-magnitude earthquake struck the Naples metropolitan area early Thursday morning, causing minor damage and injuring 11 people. The quake, the strongest recorded in the Phlegrean Fields volcanic area, sent residents into the streets. While most injuries were minor cuts from broken glass, one woman suffered injuries from a collapsing ceiling.
Mayor Gaetano Manfredi reported that one church, a seven-story residential building, and another structure were deemed unsafe due to damage, and several schools were closed as a precaution. Inspectors are currently assessing the extent of the damage across the affected region.
The quake, centered offshore from Pozzuoli, follows a similar event in May 2025. Seismologists have noted increased activity in the Phlegrean Fields in recent weeks, prompting authorities to conduct emergency drills last summer. The area’s volcanic and seismic activity, along with a 1.3-meter rise in the ground level since 2006, has raised concerns. While an eruption is not predicted, at least 500,000 people reside in the high-risk zone. Italy’s national institute for geophysics and vulcanology is urging the government to implement a plan to ensure buildings can withstand a magnitude 5.0 quake. The 1984 seismic event in the same area led to the precautionary evacuation of 40,000 residents.
First Piper 