On the evening of 31 July, an earthquake measuring 4.7 on the Richter scale struck the Phlegraean Fields near Naples, Italy – the strongest to hit the area in over 40 years. At least 21 people were injured as a result of the tremors, with two in a serious condition.
The first powerful tremor struck at 19:46 local time in the town of Pozzuoli. The earthquake was also felt in Naples and on the islands of Ischia and Procida. Following the main tremor, more than 30 aftershocks were recorded, the strongest of which had a magnitude of 3.8.
According to Italy’s Civil Protection Crisis Centre, two of the injured are classified as ‘red’ (critical). For residents unable to return to their homes, a temporary accommodation centre with 185 beds has been set up at the Palatrincone sports complex in Pozzuoli.
The town of Pozzuoli suffered the most damage. There, part of a wall on a residential building on Via Pergolesi collapsed, and large chunks of tuff fell onto parked cars. There are also reports of numerous collapsed cornices and fragments of façades in Pozzuoli and the Bagnoli area. No fatalities have been reported so far.
Rail services have been suspended due to the earthquake, and emergency services are carrying out checks on the stability of buildings. Many residents have decided to spend the night outdoors, fearing further tremors.
Italian Prime Minister George Meloni is monitoring the situation. A crisis management team led by Fabio Cicilliano, head of the Civil Protection Department, has been convened to coordinate the response.
The Phlegraean Fields are one of the most dangerous volcanic regions in Europe. In recent years, the area has been experiencing an active process of bradyseism – the slow rise and fall of the earth’s surface – accompanied by frequent earthquakes. The magnitude of 4.7 set a new record for this period of activity, exceeding the previous maximum of 4.6 recorded in June 2025.