Pozzuoli – An intervention by the firefighters of the Naples Command led to the precautionary closure of the Virgilio school, located in via Vecchia San Gennaro 106, in Pozzuoli.
The decision, formalized with ordinance no. 65 of the Municipality of Pozzuoli, was made after monitoring revealed concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) slightly above safety limits in some ground-floor rooms, particularly in the gym.
The checks, carried out today, showed that the CO2 values on the upper floors of the building are within the norm. However, to ensure maximum safety for students and school staff, the decision was made to temporarily close the entire building. The measure, adopted as a precaution, will allow further technical checks to be carried out in the coming days, taking advantage of the school break due to the Carnival festivities.
In the meantime, interventions are already planned to install fixed CO2 detection systems, equipped with acoustic and visual alarms, which will automatically signal any exceedances of safety thresholds.
The Metropolitan City of Naples, in collaboration with the Municipality of Pozzuoli, ensures that constant updates will be provided on the evolution of the situation and on the times necessary to guarantee a completely safe reopening of the institute.
The episode rekindles the spotlight on the risks associated with gas emissions in Campi Flegrei, an active volcanic area that has been under close surveillance for some time. Local authorities reiterate the importance of maintaining high levels of vigilance and adopting all necessary measures to protect public health, especially in sensitive environments such as schools.
Article published on March 1, 2025 - 19pm
The situation at the Virgilio Institute is complicated, I hope that the checks are done accurately and quickly. The health of the students is important, but the return to normality must also be quick so as not to disturb the lessons.