A family of 15 from Ireland were left traumatised after a 4.7-magnitude earthquake struck their holiday villa in Pozzuoli, near Naples, on Friday evening, forcing them to run outside as the building shook and cracked.
The group, led by Eimear Murphy, 46, from Co Meath, had flown to the Italian seaside town on Tuesday, July 28, for a week-long stay at an Airbnb villa with a swimming pool. They included Eimear's husband David, their children Jack, 13, and 10-year-old twins Kate and Conor, plus Eimear's sister Roisin Purcell, her partner Shane Kendrick, their four children, and Eimear's parents Marian and Tom O'Farrell.
Earthquake strikes at 7.45pm
The earthquake hit at roughly 7.45pm on Friday, sending locals rushing into the streets as buildings trembled across the Campi Flegrei volcanic region. With its epicentre in Pozzuoli, the 4.7-magnitude tremor was among the strongest in the area in 40 years.
Eimear was in the shower when the ground started moving. Two of the children were inside watching iPads while the rest of the family were on the veranda. She described the terror of those seconds.
"I felt the ground moving and although the earthquake was only six seconds, it felt much longer. 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," she told the Irish Mirror.
"We all ran out of the villa and stood around in shock in the garden until around 2am."
She added: "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."
Damage and injuries
The quake left Eimear with cuts and wounds on her arms, and her daughter was hit on the knee by a falling brick. While nobody was seriously hurt, the villa itself suffered significant damage, with cracks appearing in walls and stairs. Debris had to be cleared, and the family's clothes were covered in dust.
"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."
Local emergency services reported that at least four people were injured in the quake. Rubble and stonework littered streets across the area, and widespread power cuts left many areas in darkness.
Nights without sleep
With aftershocks continuing, the family had to sleep in the villa on Friday night, but got little rest.
"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," Eimear said.
"Today there are aftershocks and the ground is still shaking but we are all safe and that's the main thing."
The family are now waiting to hear if they can remain in the villa, after the owner arranged for a structural engineer to assess the building. They are also trying to book earlier flights home, but infrastructure damage is making travel difficult.
Stranded in Pozzuoli
"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 the town as "very eerie" with locals on edge.
"The town is very eerie today, 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."
The family are trying to stay composed for the sake of the children while they wait for news.
"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."
