New earthquakes on Saturday morning in the Phlegraean Fields are causing unrest in Naples. And that just a few days before an important evacuation exercise.
Campi Flegrei – When the earth shakes around the southern Italian metropolis of Naples, there is great concern, as there is a supervolcano slumbering beneath the Phlegraean Fields in the east of the city. Also earthquake comparatively low magnitudes are cause for concern. This also happened on Saturday morning (October 5th).
Series of earthquakes struck supervolcano region near Naples on Saturday
The seismographs of the Osservatorio Vesuviano from the national geophysical institute INGV (Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia) detected a series of earthquakes in the region until 6 a.m. The strongest tremor reached a magnitude of 2.4 and was clearly felt in the municipalities of Pozzuoli and the surrounding areas.
According to INGV, the epicenter was directly below the Naples motorway bypass, at a depth of around three kilometers. The strongest quake was followed by five more at a shallower depth of one to two kilometers.
A series of weak earthquakes at the supervolcano in Italy raises concerns
Given its maximum magnitude of 2.4, the most recent series of earthquakes is one of the comparatively weak ones. However, residents of the region and experts are reacting with concern to tremors in a region known for its volcanic activity.
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 last 70 years have seen continued seismic activity shape the region. This led to the coastal town of Pozzuoli rising by almost four meters. The geological instability of the region is well known, but every new activity causes unrest among the population. In spring A whole seismic swarm immediately shook the supervolcano.
Explosive situation around the supervolcano – residents of the region are rehearsing for an emergency
There was initially no specific danger as a result of the recent earthquake. However, researchers from University College London and INGV have found in a new study that the increasing number of 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.
The researchers still emphasize that while the region could be closer to an eruption, there is no immediate danger. It is important to be prepared for all developments, warns a co-author of the study. For this reason, the evacuation exercise “EXE Flegrei 2024” will take place in the Phlegraean Fields from October 9 to 12, the third and final disaster response exercise planned in the region this year. The aim is to simulate the emergency of a possible volcanic eruption, the science portal informs geopop.it. (jm)
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