Naples – “For now we are not measuring any type of process that gives us evidence of an imminent eruption”. This was stated by Francesca Bianco, director of the Vesuvius Observatory, the Naples branch of the INGV, during a press briefing called after the magnitude 4.4 earthquake recorded last night in the Campi Flegrei.
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“The data does not tell us that there is a rising of magma towards the surface,” Bianco added. The earthquake of magnitude 4.4 that occurred last night at 1.25:XNUMX in the area of Campi Flegrei was characterized by "a very developed and marked directivity of the event. This transmission of energy occurred this time towards the east, towards the city of Naples".
Francesca Bianco, director of the Vesuvius Observatory, explained this during a press briefing. In the Posillipo district of Naples, in particular, “a very significant acceleration on the ground” was recorded.
This is why the shock was particularly felt in Naples
These data explain why last night's shock was particularly felt even in the center of Naples. "Directivity - added Bianco - is a phenomenon that is associated with the earthquake, it is one of the parameters that quantifies the earthquake".
“When there is an uplift of the ground, we can say with certainty that there will be a magnitude. But we are not able to say what the relationship is between uplift and magnitude,” that is, it is not possible to establish how strong the earthquake will be based on the uplift of the ground. This is what Francesca Bianco further underlined.
Director Mauro Di Vito: “Further seismicity is to be expected”
Along the same lines, Mauro Di Vito, director of the Vesuvius Observatory of the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, who – answering a journalist's question on the possibility of making an earthquake forecast based on the trend of ground uplift – explained: “It is absolutely impossible and premature to indicate where this signal (the uplift, ed.) can take us.
What we know is that this signal, along with other signals, indicates that the process is continuing at a fairly sustained rate." Bianco also pointed out that the earthquake is not always "anticipated" by ground uplift: "The event in May of magnitude 4,4 did not occur in the presence of an acceleration of uplift," he said.
Article published on March 13, 2025 - 11pm
It seems to me that the earthquakes are becoming more frequent in this area, but I don't know if there is anything to worry about. We have to follow the updates and hope that nothing serious happens.
It is true that the data says little about the eruption but people are always anxious about these things. The situation is complicated but we hope that the experts can do their job well.