Although the earthquake swarm was clearly felt by the population, it is not an ongoing emergency but a long-lasting phenomenon.
A series of seismic tremors, the so-called seismic swarmshook Southern Italy on the night of Tuesday 23 April 2024. The strongest reached magnitude 1.6, with a depth of approximately 2.4 kilometres, and the epicenter was located near the Port of Pozzuoli.
We meet at Phlegraean Fields, an area that has been the focus of attention for several months. The seismographs of the Vesuvian Observatory of the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) recorded the first earthquake at 3:36. The Observatory promptly informed the Municipality of Pozzuoli, led by mayor Luigi Manzoni, who issued a statement reassuring citizens: “At the moment there is no damage to people or things”.
As per protocol, the Civil Protection was immediately alerted monitor the situation and coordinate any interventions. The Municipality of Pozzuoli also released an update via social media, inviting citizens to contact the following numbers to report any damage or inconvenience:
- Municipal Police Operations Centre: 081/8551891
- Civil Protection: 081/18894400
Although the earthquake swarm was clearly felt by the population, it is not an ongoing emergency. The Civil Protection is already operational and is implementing the necessary measures to guarantee the safety of citizens. Furthermore it is a phenomenon which has been going on for some time in a way that is constantly monitored and controlled by experts.
Today's exercise
A Civil Protection exercise implemented with the greatest possible realism took place today, 23 April 2024, in the Campi Flegrei. Given the prolonged and intense seismic swarm that the area is experiencing, a simulation was organized for abradyseismic emergency. The scenario was complex and involved several areas.
The collapse of the Baia pier was expected after a seismic swarm with a magnitude of 4.3 and subsequent intervention by the firefighters to rescue the injured and recover a disabled person. And again, a situation of road instability in Pozzuoli with falling rubble in Via Vecchia San Gennaro and simulation of damage to the Madonna Assunta School; the clearing of three buildings in Bacoli for checks, with 26 families involved. For Naples, damage and cracks were simulated in the road surface of Via Cinthia and rubble fell in the Santa Maria desolata church in Bagnoli.
The goal was test the answer interventions after a possible bradyseismic crisis, which could lead to earthquakes, ground deformations and gas emissions. The exercise highlighted some critical issues, such as the video connection between the command points and the involvement of health workers for the evacuation of disabled people. These will therefore be subject to improvement in future simulations.
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