Four days after the magnitude 4.7 earthquake centered at Solfatara, the crisis in the Phlegraean Fields has transformed from a structural one to a social one. The lack of potable water from the taps has caused the camel's back, prompting residents of Pozzuoli to take to the streets to express their exasperation.

The protest at the port and the water emergency

Starting as a procession of a few hundred residents, the protest quickly grew to around a thousand participants. The crowd headed toward the Pozzuoli port, managing to overcome the initial Carabinieri barrier and occupy the main dock, effectively blocking port activities.

At the forefront are the elderly, families with young children, and wheelchair users: the most vulnerable segments of the population, exhausted by the poor service and forced to demonstrate in scorching temperatures. The stifling heat has caused several attendees to become ill. Law enforcement is patrolling the area to ensure safety; the situation remains tense at this time, but no clashes have been reported.

The damage toll: 57 buildings uninhabitable

In parallel with the protests, rescue workers continue their work to secure the red zone and conduct site inspections. The official assessment provided by the Fire Department paints a grim picture: 57 buildings have been declared uninhabitable and 395 homes have been evacuated. To date, 277 interventions have already been completed and over 650 are still on the waiting list.

To cope with the enormous amount of checks, the rescue machinery has been further strengthened: 21 new MO.RECS modules have been added to the units already operational, bringing the total number of special devices in the field to 36, supported by technicians dedicated to the protection of cultural heritage and teams for the recovery of the personal belongings of evacuated families.

The appeal of the authorities

"The continued influx of reinforcements allows us to constantly expand our response capacity in the Phlegraean Fields," explained Fire Brigade Commander Giuseppe Paduano. "In addition to verifying the stability of buildings, we are providing support to the population in recovering their belongings, working in close coordination with the local police and government agencies. Our total commitment to public safety remains."

Finally, the Command renewed its call to citizens to remain calm and to use the emergency number 115 only in situations of real and immediate danger, avoiding clogging the emergency lines.