Magnitude 4.7 Earthquake Near Naples Sparks Panic, Damage, and Power Outages
The quake struck in the Phlegraean Fields volcanic caldera, with numerous aftershocks recorded through the night.
The quake struck in the Phlegraean Fields volcanic caldera, with numerous aftershocks recorded through the night.
The area near Naples was hit by a magnitude 4.7 earthquake on Thursday, July 31, 2026. The quake occurred at 7:46 PM, with its epicenter in the Phlegraean Fields (Campi Flegrei) volcanic caldera, west of Naples, at a depth of three kilometers, according to Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology.
The earthquake sparked panic among residents, who rushed out of their homes. Reports indicate that large rocks broke off cliffs and fell onto streets in residential areas, crushing several parked cars. Thick clouds of dust rose into the air, and social media footage showed streets covered with stones and debris.
Italy's fire service reported minor damage to buildings in Naples and its surroundings. In the first hours after the quake, there were no major requests for shelter or evacuation of residents. As a precaution, local authorities temporarily suspended rail and metro services.
The earthquake caused power outages across much of the affected area. According to reports from Kurir, citing Italian media, eight people were injured and taken to hospitals where they received medical treatment. Numerous aftershocks were recorded throughout the night following the main shock.
The Phlegraean Fields is a densely populated volcanic caldera that covers a large part of western Naples. In recent years, the area has seen increasingly frequent seismic activity, prompting Italian authorities to step up monitoring and surveillance. While smaller quakes are common, stronger tremors fuel fears of a repeat of the crisis from the 1980s, when thousands of people were forced to leave their homes.
Italy is frequently hit by destructive earthquakes. A series of powerful quakes struck the central part of the country in 2016, devastating parts of the Lazio, Umbria, and Marche regions, killing around 300 people. The most devastating earthquake in Italy's recent history occurred in November 1980 in the Irpinia region in the south. The magnitude 6.9 quake claimed around 2,700 lives, and hundreds of towns and villages suffered immense destruction.
