An earthquake of magnitude 3.7 followed a few minutes later by a seismic shock of slightly lower intensity was recorded at 1.25pm north of Naples with its epicenter in the volcanic area of the Campi Flegrei.
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The Campi Flegrei are an active volcanic area located west of Naples, which includes the municipalities of Bacoli, Monte di Procida, Pozzuoli, Quarto, Giugliano in Campania and part of the city of Naples. The name Campi Flegrei, from the Greek literally “burning fields”, denotes the volcanic nature of the area and the presence of numerous fumaroles and thermal waters, well known and exploited in ancient times. Unlike the better-known Vesuvius, the Campi Flegrei are not characterized by a single main volcanic edifice, but are rather a volcanic field active for more than 80,000 years, with several volcanic centers located within and near a depressed area called caldera.
The caldera is the result of the repeated sinking of a vast area caused by the collapse of the roof of the superficial magmatic reservoir following its emptying by at least two large eruptions: the Campanian Ignimbrite (40,000 years) and the Neapolitan Yellow Tuff (15,000 years). The Campanian Ignimbrite eruption is the highest energy eruption known in the Mediterranean: with it an enormous quantity of ash was dispersed into the atmosphere, influencing the climate not only at a regional level but probably also at a global level.
The last eruption occurred in 1538 and generated the Monte Nuovo tuff cone.
Five things to know if the volcano awakens under Naples
The Campi Flegrei caldera is subject to slow deformation of the ground known by the local name of bradyseism. In the periods 1970-72 and 1982-84 the Phlegraean area was affected by bradyseismic crises in which the ground, in the town of Pozzuoli in particular, underwent a maximum total lifting of approximately 3.5 m. The first crisis caused the forced abandonment of the dilapidated area of Rione Terra; the second crisis in particular was characterized by intense seismicity with serious damage to buildings. After the crises there was a period of general subsidence, interrupted starting from 2005 by a reversal of the phenomenon which led to a constant rising of the ground, which is currently still ongoing.
At present the alert level of the Campi Flegrei is yellow, as established by the Department of Civil Protection, based on the results of the monitoring and assessments expressed by the Major Risks Commission. During the month of April 2024, 1252 earthquakes with a magnitude of 3.9 were recorded in the Campi Flegrei area. Similar to the earthquake shocks recorded today.
Approximately 78 percent of the earthquakes recorded are located mainly between Pozzuoli, Agnano, the Solfatara-Pisciarelli area, Bagnoli and in the Gulf of Pozzuoli, with depths concentrated in the first 3 kilometres. The geochemical parameters confirm the multi-year trends of heating and pressurization of the hydrothermal system. The flow of CO2 from the ground in the Solfatara area is confirmed to be high with values comparable to those found in the plume of active volcanoes.
Overall, in the last month there has been an uplift of approximately 3 centimeters in the area of maximum deformation.
The Campi Flegrei could be closer to a new eruption
Earthquakes in the Campi Flegrei area can evolve in two directions. If it is a phenomenon of bradyseism, the periodic rising and lowering of the ground, the tremors will end when the volcanic gases that feed it exhaust their pressure: in 1969 it lasted until 1972 and in 1982 until 1984. If instead it is warning signs of a future eruption, the alarm could last longer, with the evacuation of almost a million inhabitants.
The eruption of Campi Flegrei would wipe out 7 municipalities, a scenario incompatible with human life