Several earthquakes shook the region around the Phlegraean Fields near Naples on Saturday morning. There is no immediate danger, but concern is growing.
Pozzuoli – The southern Italian city of Naples is known for its seismic activity, particularly in the Phlegraean Fields west of the city, where a supervolcano lies dormant. Even relatively small earthquakes cause concern. One such event occurred on the morning of October 5th.
Epicenter directly under the motorway bypass: Six earthquakes at the supervolcano near Naples
On Saturday, the seismographs of the Osservatorio Vesuviano of the National Geophysical Institute INGV (Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia) registered a series of earthquakes in the region, starting at 6 a.m. The strongest quake reached a magnitude of 2.4 and was clearly felt in the municipalities of Pozzuoli and surrounding areas.
According to INGV, the epicenter was located directly under the Naples motorway bypass, at a depth of about three kilometers. The strongest quake was followed by five more, which occurred at a shallower depth of one to two kilometers.
Series of earthquakes at the supervolcano are relatively weak: concerns about an eruption remain high
Although the maximum magnitude of 2.4 makes the recent series of quakes relatively weak, tremors in a region known for its volcanic activity are causing concern among residents and experts alike.
The Campi Flegrei is a supervolcano that stretches over more than 150 square kilometers and shares a common magma chamber with the infamous Vesuvius. The last eruption occurred in 1538, but the region has seen sustained seismic activity over the past 70 years. This activity caused the coastal town of Pozzuoli to rise by almost four meters. Despite the region’s known geological instability, any new activity causes unrest among residents. In the spring, an entire seismic swarm shook the supervolcano. There were also numerous earthquakes on Vesuvius, a few kilometers away.
The situation around Phlegraean Fields remains tense – residents are rehearsing an emergency
There was initially no immediate danger from the recent earthquake. However, a new study by University College London and INGV has found that increasing small earthquakes and ground uplifts have made the Campi Flegrei weaker and more prone to cracking. This weakening increases the likelihood of an eruption, although one is not guaranteed as the magma still needs to be pushed up in the right place.
Scientists emphasize that the region may be closer to an eruption, but there is no immediate danger. However, a co-author of the study warns that one should be prepared for all developments. Therefore, the evacuation exercise “EXE Flegrei 2024” will take place in the Phlegraean Fields from October 9th to 12th. This is the third and final disaster response exercise planned in the region this year. The aim is to simulate a possible volcanic eruption, like the science portal geopop.it. reported. (jm)
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