Key facts
- A 4.7-magnitude earthquake struck near Naples, Italy, on Friday night.
- At least 21 people were injured, with two in critical condition.
- The quake caused power outages, damaged buildings, and disrupted transport.
- Over 250 residents were evacuated from their homes.
- The event is part of an ongoing seismic swarm in the Campi Flegrei volcanic region.
A 4.7-magnitude earthquake struck the Campi Flegrei region near Naples, Italy, on Friday night, injuring at least 21 people and causing significant disruption. The tremor, the strongest in the area in four decades, occurred at a shallow depth of 3km and was felt across Naples and surrounding islands. It triggered power outages, damaged buildings, a pier, and a high-voltage pylon, leading to the evacuation of over 250 residents. Many spent the night outdoors due to fears of further collapses.
The earthquake was part of a larger seismic swarm, with seismographs registering approximately 60 more tremors, including a 3.1-magnitude quake early Saturday morning. The heaviest damage was reported in Pozzuoli, near the epicenter, where a building partially collapsed. Nine buildings have been declared unsafe as inspections continue. Transport services, including ferries and high-speed trains, were significantly affected.
Rescuers described the situation as dangerous due to the risk of further cliff collapses and expressed frustration that the situation was foreseeable, with warnings about the mountain's instability having been present for over a year and a half without adequate municipal action.