A 4.4 magnitude earthquake shook the Campi Flegrei supervolcano area near Naples early Thursday morning. Schools were closed as authorities assessed potential damage in the seismically active zone.
Naples, 21 May 2026
A 4.4 magnitude earthquake struck the Campi Flegrei supervolcano region near Naples at 5:50 AM local time on Thursday, according to Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV).
The quake, which occurred at a depth of three kilometers, was followed by aftershocks measuring 2.1 and 1.2 on the Richter scale. The epicenter was located off the coast of the towns Pozzuoli and Bacoli, just west of Naples.
Mayor Josi Della Ragione of Bacoli announced via social media that all public and private schools would remain closed while damage assessments were conducted. "We are checking for possible damage," he stated, urging calm among residents.
This marks the strongest seismic event in the area since June 2025, when a 4.6 magnitude quake - the most powerful in 40 years - rattled the region. The Campi Flegrei caldera, a 12-15 km wide supervolcano, has been monitored closely since renewed activity began in 2005.
The INGV reported detecting 315 tremors in April alone, though most were imperceptible to residents. Ground levels in the area have risen 164 cm since 2005 due to magma movement beneath the surface.
Authorities maintain constant monitoring of geochemical parameters in the area. INGV scientists noted these measurements remain "stable at high levels" in their weekly bulletins.
The Italian government allocated €184 million in February 2025 for 50 infrastructure projects designed to mitigate earthquake damage in the vulnerable zone. An evacuation plan exists to relocate 600,000 residents within 72 hours if necessary.
While experts consider an eruption unlikely in the near term, the supervolcano's last major eruption 39,000 years ago affected global climate patterns. Its most recent activity occurred in 1538, forming the Monte Nuovo crater.
Residents reported being awakened by the prolonged shaking. "This time the earth shook for a particularly long time," one woman told local media, adding "you never get used to it" despite frequent tremors.
