Benevento, fake news about the earthquake: Mastella denies school closures, complaint filed for unjustified alarmism.

Benevento – "Enough with the hoaxes that spread panic," thunders the mayor, ready to sue those responsible for the unfounded rumor. In a city still reeling from Saturday night's earthquake, Mayor Clemente Mastella had to step up to nip a dangerous fake news story in the bud, threatening to amplify the chaos.

"Schools will be open as usual tomorrow," the Municipality reiterated in an official statement, categorically denying rumors circulating online and on social media that schools would be closed for the entire day on Tuesday, October 28. The magnitude 4.0 earthquake, centered in the province of Avellino, shook inland Campania late on the evening of Saturday, October 25.

A shallow tremor, recorded by the INGV at 9:47 PM, caused a shock wave felt as far away as Naples and Salerno, but no serious structural damage has been reported so far. In Benevento, the indirect epicenter of the earthquake, authorities have decided to close school buildings as a precaution today, Monday, October 27, to allow thorough inspections by municipal technicians and firefighters.

"There's no immediate risk, but you can never be too careful," explains Mastella, who personally coordinated the inspection operations.

"There is no official provision requiring the closure tomorrow. In the absence of further communications, everything is proceeding as planned," the mayor stated in the statement issued around 11 a.m. The message is clear and direct, with a stern warning: Mastella announced he will "file a complaint with the competent authorities for the dissemination of this false news," accusing those responsible of contributing to unjustified alarmism at a time of collective fragility. This is not the first time Benevento has found itself having to battle misinformation during emergency situations.

We recall how, during the 2015 floods, unfounded rumors of mass evacuations complicated relief efforts. Today, with social media amplifying every whisper into a digital hurricane, the phenomenon of fake news poses a concrete threat to social cohesion.

Cybersecurity experts contacted by this editorial team emphasize the importance of verifying sources: "In situations like this, rely only on official channels like the municipal website or the INGV app," warns Professor Giovanni Rossi, a professor of computer forensics at the University of Naples.

While inspections continue smoothly—with preliminary reports confirming that most institutions are safe to use—Mastella urges residents to remain calm: "Benevento is a resilient city, accustomed to getting back on its feet. Let's not let lies weaken us more than the earthquake." For real-time updates, the Municipality has activated a dedicated Telegram channel, accessible from the official website.