Authorities in Italy are drawing up evacuation plans for tens of thousands of residents near the Campi Flegrei supervolcano, which has shown increased seismic activity since 2022. The volcano, located near Naples, consists of 24 craters and underwater volcanoes, with its last mass eruption occurring around 18,000 years ago.
Recent months have seen a surge in earthquakes, including a 4.2 magnitude tremor in September, the strongest in 40 years, followed by a 4.0 quake on October 2. In April, the area experienced 600 earthquakes. While no definitive eruption prediction has been made, the heightened activity has raised concerns among experts.
Civil Protection Minister Nello Musumeci stated that evacuations would only occur in cases of “extreme necessity,” but confirmed that contingency plans are in place. Local resident Francesco Cammarota described the situation as frightening, saying, “One day it will just go off.”
Mauro Antonio Di Vito, director of the Vesuvius Observatory, warned of risks from urbanisation in fragile areas, emphasising the need for better building structures. Researcher Stefano Carlino noted that while the volcano may settle into a new routine, preparation for all outcomes is crucial.
The last minor eruption occurred in 1538, lasting from September to October. A super eruption around 40,000 years ago is believed to have contributed to the extinction of Neanderthals.
