At least 21 injured as 4.7-magnitude earthquake strikes near Naples

A 4.7-magnitude earthquake struck near Naples in southern Italy on Friday evening, leaving at least 21 people injured and causing significant damage to buildings and infrastructure. The quake hit at 7.46pm local time in the Campi Flegrei area, home to Europe's largest volcanic crater. It triggered power outages, disrupted public transport, and caused part of a cliff to collapse, making it the strongest tremor in the region in 40 years.

By Saturday morning, at least two of the injured were reported to be in critical condition. More than 250 people had been evacuated from their homes, and many residents spent the night outside, fearing their buildings might collapse. A rescuer told Reuters that one person was 'alive by a miracle.' The quake, which had a depth of 3 kilometers, was felt across Naples, the island of Ischia, and as far away as the Sorrento peninsula. It was part of an ongoing seismic swarm, according to Italy's national institute of geophysics and volcanology, which recorded about 60 aftershocks, including a 3.1-magnitude tremor at 5.47am that was felt in Bacoli, Pozzuoli, and Naples.

The rescuer warned that the mountain could continue to collapse and expressed anger that the situation was foreseeable, as problems had been apparent for a year and a half. 'The municipality knew about the situation and did nothing—perhaps if they had acted sooner, this could have been avoided,' he said. The heaviest damage occurred in Pozzuoli, near the epicenter, where a building partially collapsed and large chunks of rubble crushed parked cars, though no injuries were reported there. Nine buildings have been deemed unsafe.

A resident described the fear: 'We all ran out of our homes because it was impossible to stay inside. It lasted a long time and was very powerful, and we no longer know what we are supposed to do.' Firefighters reported stuck lifts and a partially collapsed high-voltage pylon that disrupted electricity for 100,000 households. The port authority said the Pozzuoli pier was unusable, and ferry and hydrofoil services to the islands were suspended. High-speed train passengers faced delays of up to six hours, with some routes rerouted.