The Italian government is planning a possible mass evacuation of tens of thousands of people living near the supervolcano in the “Campi Flegrei” area near Naples. The new measures, including a plan to check the strength of buildings in the area after months of repeated earthquakes, are currently being examined by the government, Rome said.
The “Campi Flegrei” (Phlegraic Fields – Greek for “fires”) are located about 20 kilometers from Naples. Here you will find densely populated cities such as Pozzuoli, Agnano and Bacoli, which together have more than 500,000 inhabitants.
Area dotted with 24 craters
The area is riddled with 24 craters and is a much larger volcano than nearby Vesuvius, which destroyed the ancient Roman city of Pompeii in 79 AD.
The strongest earthquake in the region in forty years
In the past month alone, the region has been hit by more than 1,100 earthquakes, including a magnitude 4.0 earthquake on Monday and another magnitude 4.2 earthquake last week – the strongest in the region in four decades.
The ground rises by 1.5 centimeters per month
Experts say the increased seismic activity is likely due to a phenomenon known as ‘bradyseism’, in which the Earth rises or falls depending on the cycle, caused by the filling or emptying of underground magma chambers. Most volcanologists say there is no immediate threat of an eruption, but with the ground currently rising at a rate of 1.5 centimeters per month, authorities are concerned about the impact on buildings.
Evacuations “very necessary”
Civil Protection Minister Nello Musumeci said this week that evacuations would only be carried out in cases of “extreme necessity”. The government wants to provide more resources to local authorities for disaster response so they can respond quickly in case of emergency and finance a communications campaign to raise public awareness, Musumeci said.
Hospitals began evacuation tests
Local media reported that a group of hospitals in the region began evacuation tests on Friday to ensure they were prepared for stronger earthquakes or eruptions. The last time “Campi Flegrei” was hit by a comparable number of earthquakes was in the 1980s. At that time, about 40,000 people from nearby Pozzuoli were temporarily taken to safety.
The last major volcanic eruption occurred in 1538. One of the largest eruptions in history occurred 39,000 years ago and may have led to the extinction of the Neanderthals, researchers say. The magma from this eruption was found in Greenland, about 4,500 kilometers away.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
