The Solfatara volcano in Pozzuoli was recently released from sequestration, news welcomed with great satisfaction by Francesco Maisto, president of the Campi Flegrei Regional Park Authority.
The area had been under lockdown since September 2017, following a tragic accident in which three Venetian tourists lost their lives due to a sinkhole. Maisto wanted to express his "deserved thanks" to all those who contributed to the revitalization of this area.
Security Efforts
Over the course of two years, the Park Authority has dedicated all its energies to securing the volcano. Solfatara, an important natural area within the "Integrated Reserve Zone" of the Park Area, subject to strict "Protection Regulations." Management of the geosite is regulated by a 2019 resolution of the Campania Regional Council, which assigns the Park Authority the task of managing the Special Conservation Zone.
Thanks to authorizations from the Second Criminal Section of the Court of Appeal of Naples, the Authority has undertaken numerous initiatives, including securing forest trails and clearing invasive plants. Load tests and site inspections have also been conducted to train new Volcanological Guides.
Collaborations and Future Projects
A significant project, developed in collaboration with the University of Naples Engineering, involves the construction of a walkway across the kaolin portion of the volcano. Furthermore, a memorandum of understanding has been signed with the Vesuvius National Park Authority for future collaboration on volcanoes.
To ensure visitor safety, the Park Authority has regulated entry to the Solfatara, with groups accompanied by Volcanological Guides equipped with sensors to monitor the percentage of CO² in the air, according to the indications of the Vesuvius Volcanological Observatory.
Visitor Safety Initiatives
A permanent team of volcanological guides will also be established at the Solfatara, similar to what has already been established on Vesuvius. The Park Authority has expressed its intention to explore funding opportunities through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) to further improve the safety of the geological site. Special thanks are extended to the Regional College of Volcanological Guides, the INGV, the Federico II University of Naples, volcanologist Giuseppe Luongo, and Massimo D'Antonio for their support along the path to reopening this important site.
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Comments (1)
The release of the Solfatara volcano is good news, but I hope that the safety measures are effective to avoid accidents like the one in 2017. The management of the area must be very careful and controlled to protect visitors.