Population in fear

Naples region shaken by earthquake again

The Campi Flegrei in southern Italy

(Bild: stock.adobe.com)

The region around the southern Italian city of Naples was shaken by a magnitude 3.9 earthquake on Sunday. There were no reports of casualties or damage. However, the Italian volcanology institute INGV reported that the population was in fear.

The earthquake occurred in the area of the Campi Flegrei (Phlegraean Fields) volcanic caldera. The "Burning Fields" are a volcanic area covering a total of 150 square kilometers with dozens of craters. The first eruption around 34,000 years ago is said to have been comparable to those of Tambora in 1815 and Krakatau in Indonesia in 1883, which changed the world's climate.

On May 20, 2024, the region was shaken by the most violent earthquakes in 40 years. At the time, the quake was felt in many parts of Naples and other cities in the region. Further aftershocks followed. The area extends both on land and in the sea.

Lava eruptions near Mount Etna
For days, there have also been smaller eruptions and weak earth tremors around Europe's largest active volcano, Mount Etna. It is located in the east of the Italian island of Sicily and has erupted repeatedly in recent months. There is usually no danger for the people who live around the mountain, which is more than 3,000 meters high. 

On Sunday evening, the airspace to the north-east and east of the volcano was closed. 32 flights had to be diverted to Palermo airport. Buses were organized to take passengers to Catania.