The mayor of Bacoli, Josi Gerardo della Ragione, has established a task force following the magnitude 3.9 earthquake, the strongest in recent months, at dawn today.
The epicenter was recorded two kilometers from Bacoli. This is the strongest earthquake recorded in the area since September 2023, when a magnitude 4.2 earthquake shook much of central and southern Italy.
In Bacoli, in-depth checks have been underway since this morning, especially in the buildings in the historic center where debris fell from at least 4 buildings.
The shock was clearly felt in Bacoli, Pozzuoli and Naples, where it triggered calls to the fire brigade switchboard for information.
The earthquake occurred during the ongoing bradyseismic crisis in the Phlegraean Fields, characterized by an intensification of seismic activity. According to volcanologist Mauro Di Vito , director of the Vesuvius Observatory, today's earthquakes "testify that the Earth's crust is deforming and accumulating stress ." If the phenomenon continues, Di Vito warned, "we cannot rule out tremors of greater magnitude."
And in light of what happened, the Archaeological Park of Campi Flegrei has temporarily closed access to the archaeological sites in the area. The closure was ordered by director Fabio Pagano for security reasons.
All archaeological sites of Campi Flegrei closed
And indeed, a specific note: "Visitors are advised that, in relation to this morning's seismic event and in implementation of safety protocols, starting this morning the Park sites are temporarily closed to the public until the conclusion of the ongoing seismic swarm is communicated and the scheduled technical checks have been carried out."
The Piscina Mirabilis in Bacoli is also closed: "The Piscina Mirabilis will also remain closed until further notice for appropriate inspections. We apologize to anyone who had already planned a visit, but nature is unpredictable."
The seismic event was also felt in Procida and Ischia, where no damage occurred. The mayors of the two islands have however invited the population to remain vigilant and to follow the instructions of the authorities in case of new tremors.
The seismic event was also felt in Procida and Ischia
In Procida in particular, the seismic event linked to bradyseism was felt by many residents, so much so that the island's mayor, Dino Ambrosino , a few hours later, wanted to reassure his fellow citizens through his personal and municipal social media channels.
"This morning at 5:45 a.m., we also felt the earthquake throughout Procida. It woke us up with a prolonged shaking lasting several seconds. At this time, no damage has been reported on the island," was the message from Procida's mayor.
In Ischia the effects of the 5.45 earthquake were decidedly less powerful even if there are reports of those who felt it, especially on the northern side of the island.
The Vesuvius Observatory continues to carefully monitor the evolution of bradyseism in the Phlegraean Fields , using a network of monitoring stations that constantly monitor numerous parameters, such as the degree of ground deformation and gas emissions.
