A 4.2 magnitude earthquake shakes the province of Naples, southern Italy

An earthquake of magnitude 4.2 shook the area of the Phlegraean Fields, in the province of Naples, in southern Italy, early this Wednesday.. It is the highest intensity earthquake in recent weeks in this volcanic area, where the tremors have intensified in recent weeks and, although it was clearly warned by the population, it has not caused damage.

The earthquake, the strongest of several that occurred during the night, was recorded at 3:35 a.m. and its epicenter was located at a depth of 3 kilometers, being clearly felt in several neighborhoods of Naples, as well as in nearby municipalities such as Pozzuoli and Bacoli, according to the Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology.

Many were awakened, especially in the Neapolitan neighborhoods of Fuorigrotta, Vomero, the Chiaia Riviera and Capodimonte by the tremor, which lasted several seconds, as well as by car and shop alarms that were activated, but Civil Protection reported that no They have reported damage.

After the earthquake, train circulation to and from the Neapolitan capital was suspended as a precaution for track control, but was later reactivated.

Also some mayors of localities in the area have decided to close schools this Wednesday as a precaution, as in Pozzuoli.

“We are all awake. I am in constant contact with Civil Protection and the INGV. The earthquake was strong and I have already carried out checks on the school buildings to check if there is damage and that is why we are preparing an order to suspend teaching activities, we will need a few hours for the checks,” wrote the mayor of that town, Luigi Manzoni, on their social networks.

The intensification of the earthquake phenomenon in this area located on an ancient volcano in the Gulf of Pozzuoli, most of which is under water, has worried the population of nearly 500,000 people.

However, the head of Civil Protection, Fabrizio Curcio, explained that although this area “is yellow risk and therefore the monitoring system is high, at the moment there are no imminent crises, although there are a series of seismic activities at surface level, which are clearly perceived by the inhabitants”.