Powerful earthquake near Naples injures 26 and causes widespread disruption

A powerful 4.7-magnitude earthquake struck the area surrounding Naples in southern Italy on Friday evening, leaving at least 26 people injured and causing widespread disruption across the region. The earthquake hit at 7:46 p.m., shaking communities around Campi Flegrei, Europe's largest volcanic caldera. The tremor triggered power outages, interrupted public transportation, and damaged a pier in Pozzuoli. Authorities described it as the strongest earthquake to affect the area in the last four decades.

The quake also caused sections of a cliff to collapse, along with several abandoned buildings. In Pozzuoli, where the epicenter was located, landslides forced the evacuation of approximately 300 residents. Many people chose to remain outdoors overnight, fearing further structural damage or additional collapses while emergency services transported at least five injured people to hospital. Rescue teams described one survivor as being "alive by a miracle" after escaping the destruction.

According to Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, the earthquake was part of an ongoing seismic swarm. The main shock originated at a depth of just 3km and was felt not only across Naples but also on the nearby island of Ischia and as far as the Sorrento Peninsula. Italy's Civil Protection Minister, Nello Musumeci, urged residents to remain vigilant, warning that seismic and volcanic activity in the region had not yet subsided.

Following the initial earthquake, monitoring stations recorded around 60 aftershocks. One of the strongest, measuring magnitude 3.1, struck early on Saturday morning and was felt by residents of Naples, Pozzuoli, and Bacoli. Rescue workers also expressed concern over the instability of the surrounding cliffs, warning that further collapses remain possible. One rescuer criticized local authorities, claiming that warning signs had been evident for more than a year and that preventive measures could have reduced the damage.

Pozzuoli experienced some of the most severe destruction. A partially collapsed building sent large amounts of debris onto parked vehicles, although no one was injured in the incident. Safety inspections are continuing, and officials have already declared nine buildings unsafe for occupation.

Residents described scenes of fear and confusion immediately after the earthquake. Many rushed into the streets as their homes shook violently, unsure whether it was safe to return. Some complained that emergency guidance was slow to arrive, leaving families, including those with young children, waiting outside without clear instructions.

Firefighters responded to numerous emergency calls, including reports of people trapped inside elevators. A partially collapsed high-voltage electricity pylon in the Agnano district disrupted power supplies to around 100,000 households.

The earthquake also severely affected transportation. Damage to the Pozzuoli pier forced the suspension of ferry and hydrofoil services to nearby islands, while high-speed rail passengers experienced delays of up to six hours, with several train services diverted as a precaution.