The city of Naples, Italy, was hit by a magnitude 4.4 earthquake on Thursday, 13. The earthquake caused small damage and injured 11 people, one of them a woman who was hit by the ceiling of a collapse. All were referred to the hospital.
This was one of the strongest earthquakes recorded in the history of the Flegreus fields, a vast area of volcanoes that encompasses a large part of the metropolitan area of Naples. He equaled in magnitude to a similar quake in the same region in May last year, which had already placed the population on alert.
Officers reported that the most serious case was bruises after part of a ceiling collapse. Residents were awakened by the earthquake at dawn and sought safety on the streets, repeating actions taken last year.
The epicenter of the tremor, which caused the fall of stones and cement of some facades, was identified on the coast of Pozzuoli, a coastal suburb adjacent to Naples.
Mayor Gaetano Manfredi informed reporters that, due to damage, a church, a seven -story residential building and another building were banned, and some schools were closed as a precautionary measure.
Manfredi also added that inspectors were evaluating the buildings to identify more damage. “We are following with greater attention all our structures and monitoring all events in real time,” said the mayor.
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Seismic activity
Seismologists were already noting an increase in seismic activity around the Flegreus fields in recent weeks. Authorities have simulated last summer to prepare for a large emergency given the growing frequency of tremors.
The region, active both seismically and volcanically, has seen its surface has been raised by 1.3 meters since 2006, a higher increase than the one observed before the last major event in 1984. Nevertheless, seismologists highlight the impossibility of predicting when an eruption or a stronger earthquake could occur.
At least 500,000 people live in the highest risk zone of a possible volcanic eruption. The National Institute of Italy for Geophysics and Volcanology has requested a government plan to ensure that structures can resist an earthquake of at least 5.0 magnitude.
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During the 1984 seismic event, 40,000 residents were forced to leave their homes as a precaution against a dreaded eruption that did not occur in the end.
