NATIONAL
Pozzuoli quake: Campi Flegrei's strongest tremor in 40 years
4.7-magnitude quake injures 26, forces 300 evacuations near Naples
Rosaria Esposito318 wordsEdition №66Monday, 3 August 2026 — Edition № 66
A 4.7-magnitude earthquake struck the volcanic region west of Naples on Friday evening, injuring at least 26 people and prompting the evacuation of about 300 residents, according to the Guardian. The tremor, which hit at 7.46pm local time, is the strongest to shake the Campi Flegrei area in 40 years, the paper reported.
Video footage captured by residents showed a rockfall crashing down in the coastal town of Pozzuoli, where the quake caused power outages and damage to properties, the Guardian reported. At least five people were taken to hospital, while authorities moved hundreds of residents out of their homes as a precaution.
The quake is part of an ongoing 'seismic swarm' that has rattled the densely populated area around Naples, a region already on edge due to the volcanic nature of the Campi Flegrei caldera, one of the world's most active volcanic systems.
The Guardian's coverage noted that the earthquake occurred amid a series of tremors, with the 4.7-magnitude event being the most powerful in decades. The Local Italy reported on Saturday that the quake injured 21 people and damaged properties, with authorities confirming the toll a day after the strongest tremor to hit the area in several decades.
For Campania, the event is a stark reminder of the region's geological fragility. The Campi Flegrei, a sprawling volcanic area west of Naples, has been subject to a phenomenon known as bradyseism — the gradual rising and falling of the ground — which has heightened concerns among geologists and residents alike. While the quake's epicentre was offshore, the impact was felt across Pozzuoli and parts of Naples, where panicked residents took to the streets.
The evacuation of 300 people, as reported by the Guardian, underscores the challenge of managing a natural hazard in one of Italy's most densely populated regions. Local authorities have yet to confirm when evacuees can return home, and the risk of further tremors remains, according to scientists monitoring the area.
The event has drawn international attention to the Campi Flegrei's potential for larger seismic activity, with foreign outlets noting that the region's volcanic nature makes it a focus of ongoing study. For now, the immediate priority for Campania is the safety of its residents and the assessment of structural damage in Pozzuoli and surrounding towns.