The government allocates €100 million for initial interventions in the Phlegraean Fields.

Pozzuoli – An initial allocation of €100 million to address initial emergencies, while tensions are skyrocketing in the streets of Pozzuoli. The Council of Ministers approved the extraordinary measure for the Phlegraean Fields at the end of a critical day marked by roadblocks, citizen protests, and a water network severely compromised by the powerful 4.7 magnitude earthquake of July 31st.

The protest at the port and Piantedosi's intervention

In Pozzuoli, residents' anger erupted in a blockade of the city's port, which remained paralyzed for about an hour. Over a thousand people—including activists from local committees, families, and business owners—gathered to protest the disruption and demand immediate and concrete action.

The demonstration temporarily interrupted ferry connections to Ischia and Procida. The blockade was lifted only after confirmation that Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi would meet with a delegation of citizens at the Prefecture in Naples, on the sidelines of a scheduled operational summit with the local mayors.

The damage toll: over 700 displaced and schools closed

While the Fire Department and Civil Protection teams are working tirelessly, the emergency numbers continue to worsen. 227 inspections have been carried out so far out of 1.182 requests submitted. The provisional overview drawn up by the Rescue Coordination Center in the presence of Prefect Michele di Bari and Regional President Roberto Fico highlights:

57 buildings declared uninhabitable and 395 housing units evacuated;

Over 700 people have been displaced (of whom 568 have found independent accommodation);

13 school buildings unusable (three of which require major structural interventions);

14 places of worship closed to the public.

Adding to the population's plight is the water crisis: entire areas of the city have been without running water for days due to breaks in the water mains caused by the earthquake. To alleviate the hardship, authorities have ordered an increase in water supply services via tankers.

Musumeci: "It's an ordeal. We need a national response."

The €100 million released by the government will cover "an initial rough estimate of the damage, to allow local authorities to act immediately," Civil Protection Minister Nello Musumeci explained on the sidelines of the summit chaired at Palazzo Chigi by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

Musumeci called the situation in the Campi Flegrei a "national case," emphasizing that bradyseism represents a complex challenge for which institutions cannot make mathematical predictions. "It is an interminable ordeal for the affected populations," the minister stated, reiterating the government's commitment to restoring trust in the region.

Unions call for a halt to mortgages and taxes

While we await a final damage assessment—an operation that will take several weeks—social concerns are rising. Trade unions, including UIL Campania, are urging the adoption of an emergency package similar to that implemented for other natural disasters: a suspension of tax payments for residents and businesses, a moratorium on mortgage payments for damaged homes, and the creation of a special fund dedicated exclusively to securing the Phlegraean Fields' building stock.