The Italian government is taking proactive steps to prepare for a potential mass evacuation of tens of thousands of residents living in proximity to the Campi Flegrei super volcano, situated near Naples. This announcement follows months of increased seismic activity, including a recent series of earthquakes, raising concerns about the safety of the local population.
Campi Flegrei, or "Phlegraean Fields" in Greek, is located approximately 20 kilometers (12.5 miles) from Naples and encompasses numerous towns and villages, including Pozzuoli, Agnano, and Bacoli. This region is home to more than 500,000 people. Unlike its more famous neighbor, Mount Vesuvius, which famously destroyed the ancient Roman city of Pompeii in 79 AD, Campi Flegrei is a much larger volcano characterized by a caldera studded with 24 craters.
Recent seismic activity has been a cause for alarm, with over 1,100 earthquakes recorded in the past month alone. Among these were a 4.0 magnitude tremor on October 2 and a 4.2 magnitude quake the previous week, marking the most significant seismic activity in the area in four decades.
Experts have attributed the heightened seismic activity to a geological phenomenon known as bradyseism. This phenomenon involves the gradual rising or falling of the Earth's surface, depending on cycles associated with the filling or emptying of underground magma chambers. While there is no imminent threat of an eruption, scientists are concerned about the impact of ground movement on local infrastructure, particularly buildings.
Nello Musumeci, Italy's Civil Protection Minister, assured the public that evacuations would only be initiated in the case of "extreme necessity." The government is set to discuss additional measures, including assessing the structural integrity of buildings in the affected area and allocating more resources to local civil protection agencies. A communication campaign will also be launched to raise awareness among the local population.
In preparation for potential evacuations, local hospitals in the region will commence evacuation drills starting October 6 to ensure readiness for more substantial earthquakes or volcanic eruptions.
The last time Campi Flegrei experienced a comparable surge in earthquake activity was in the 1980s, leading to the temporary evacuation of approximately 40,000 residents from nearby Pozzuoli. The most recent significant eruption of the super volcano occurred in 1538. However, one of its most powerful eruptions took place around 39,000 years ago and may have contributed to the extinction of the Neanderthal species. Evidence of this ancient eruption has been discovered as far away as Greenland, approximately 4,500 kilometers from Campi Flegrei.
While there is currently no immediate danger of a volcanic eruption, Italian authorities are taking proactive steps to ensure the safety of the population in the event that the situation escalates.
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