A quiet morning in Naples quickly turned chaotic when one of the strongest earthquakes in decades rattled the city and surrounding areas.
Residents were jolted out of their routines as buildings shook, alarms rang out, and streets filled with panicked people trying to make sense of what had just happened.
Loud Roar and Sudden Tremors Shock Locals
At around 9:15am, the ground gave way to a powerful 4.6-magnitude earthquake, striking just off the coast of Naples.
Locals said it wasn’t just the shaking—it was the sound that startled them most.
“It felt like a bomb had gone off,” said several residents from Bagnoli, a coastal suburb near the epicentre.
Others described a deep roaring noise followed by a strong tremor that sent them fleeing outside.
Phlegraean Fields at the Center of the Activity
The quake’s epicentre was located just beneath the sea, about 1.5 miles deep, near the Phlegraean Fields—a geologically active caldera west of Naples known for its underground volcanic activity.
This same area recorded a similar 4.6-magnitude quake back in March, which at the time was the most powerful in four decades.
Now, just months later, locals are reliving that fear all over again.
Naples Residents Share Their Frightening Moments
The tremor was felt across many neighbourhoods in the city.
In Vomero, one woman told La Repubblica: “We rocked a lot… I’m still shaking.”
In Fuorigrotta, another person called the experience “terrifying,” describing the panic of not knowing how long the shaking would last—or how bad it might get.
Public Transport Comes to a Halt
As a safety precaution, rail traffic was temporarily suspended across Naples, a city home to more than 900,000 people.
Commuters were left stranded and businesses paused operations while authorities assessed any damage.
Fortunately, so far, there have been no reports of serious injuries or structural collapse.
Dozens of Tremors Follow Initial Quake
The morning’s main quake wasn’t the only one. According to seismologists, it was part of a seismic swarm, with over a dozen smaller tremors detected shortly before and after the main event.
The Vesuvius Observatory also picked up minor quakes overnight, though none exceeded magnitude 1.
These swarms have been happening more frequently, prompting scientists to keep a close eye on the region, especially around the volatile Phlegraean Fields.
What’s Next for Naples?
Authorities continue to monitor the area for further seismic activity.
While the situation appears to have calmed for now, the suddenness of the quake has left many residents shaken—both physically and emotionally.
For those living in one of Europe’s most geologically active zones, this serves as another stark reminder of nature’s unpredictability and power.
