Eimear Murphy was in the shower when she felt the ground shift violently beneath her. Within seconds, she and her family were fleeing their rented villa in Pozzuoli, Italy, as walls cracked and debris tumbled around them.
The 46-year-old from Ireland was on holiday with her husband David, their children Jack, 13, and 10-year-old twins Kate and Conor, as well as her sister Roisin Purcell, Roisin's partner Shane Kendrick, their four children, and Eimear's parents Marian and Tom O'Farrell. The group of 15 had arrived on Tuesday, July 28, for a week-long stay at an Airbnb villa with a swimming pool in Pozzuoli, a seaside town about 20 minutes from Naples.
At approximately 7.45pm on Friday, a 4.7-magnitude earthquake struck the Campi Flegrei volcanic area. It was among the most powerful to hit the region in four decades and was centred on Pozzuoli. Local emergency services confirmed at least four people were injured, and tremors were felt across Naples and neighbouring communities.
'I thought we were going to die'
Eimear recalled being in the shower when the quake hit. Two of the children were inside on their iPads, while the rest of the family were outside on the veranda.
"I felt the ground moving and although the earthquake was only six seconds, it felt much longer," she said. "I really thought the house was collapsing and I shouted to the boys to get out. My husband was outside shouting at us to get out too."
"There was pure panic and I really thought the villa was going to collapse on us and I thought we were going to die. It's the first time any of us experienced an earthquake and it's traumatising," she added.
Injuries and damage
The quake left Eimear with cuts and gashes on her arms, and her daughter sustained a knee injury from a tumbling brick. The villa suffered significant damage, with cracks appearing across walls and staircases.
"The walls are all cracked, the stairs are cracked, we cleaned up the debris but our clothes are destroyed with dust," Eimear said. "We are afraid the whole building is going to fall down."
With aftershocks continuing through the evening, the family had little choice but to remain in the villa, though sleep was nearly impossible. "We had to sleep in the villa last night but none of us really slept. The kids are upset and didn't sleep a wink and we are all traumatised by it," she said.
Desperate to get home
The family are now waiting for a structural engineer, commissioned by the property owner, to assess the building's safety. They are also trying to secure earlier flights home but are facing significant disruption.
"We can't get flights out of here and all the shops and supermarkets are closed and the ports are closed too," Eimear said. "We are living off Tayto crisps which we brought with us from home and bread rolls and water for now."
She described Pozzuoli as "very eerie" and said locals were on edge. "Everyone is freaked out and we are all apprehensive and just want to be home."
"There's a lot of panic around the town today, police cars are flying around the place with sirens on."
"We are all trying to stay calm for the sake of the kids but we just want to get out as we are nervous."
"It's a holiday that turned to hell and we just wish we were home now," she said.
