ROME – A magnitude 4.4 earthquake occurred in the southern Italian city of Naples early Thursday, causing damage to the buildings and locals fled to the streets.
The earthquake occurred at 1:25am (0025 GMT) along with the epicenter near the coastal town of Potzioli, located west of Naples, according to the Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV).
The intense people, the same size as last May, have been the strongest since the early 1980s since the early 1980s when a series of earthquake events caused damage and panic in the same area.
Small earthquakes are frequently occurring in densely populated areas near Campi Flegrei Super Volcano, but locals have confirmed that this is one of the most severe in recent years.
“I was asleep and I suddenly heard a terrible bang, so I never heard such a loud noise,” said Raphael Chipolano.
“It was a very bad moment. And then of course, when I got up, I turned on the lights and saw my house cracked and cracked everywhere,” he added.
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The emergency team rescued one person from a tile bleed that partially collapsed, authorities confirmed. Several small aftershocks were felt in the area, raising concern among residents.
Some people forced the gates to be opened at former NATO base in Bagnori to seek evacuation.
Power was reported in parts of Naples, and many families chose to stay outdoors or in a vehicle overnight, fearing further trembling.
Earthquakes occur quite frequently in Italy.
In the area made up of Naples, the most recent and most severe was one of the magnitudes of 6.9 that occurred in the Ilpinia region in November 1980, killing about 2,734 people, wounding more than 8,800 people, and destroying more than 300 municipalities.
By Keith Weir
