A series of aftershocks struck the Naples area in southern Italy during the night following a major earthquake of magnitude 4.7, the strongest in the region in over four decades. The National Institute of Geophysics and Vulcanology (INGV) recorded subsequent tremors through Saturday morning after the initial quake on Friday evening, with one reaching magnitude 3.8. The epicenter was located in the Phlegraean Fields, a volcanically active area west of Naples. The main shock and its aftershocks were most strongly felt in the settlements around the Phlegraean Fields, but were clearly felt in Naples and nearby islands of Ischia and Procida. Many residents spent the night outdoors due to fear. In some affected areas, power outages were reported, and authorities stated that 21 people had been injured in the region since Friday evening. The coastal town of Pozzuoli was among the hardest-hit areas. Walls and parts of facades that collapsed caused damage, and rocks fell in some places. The Phlegraean Fields, an area of high volcanic activity, have frequently experienced a series of smaller earthquakes and several stronger tremors in recent years. Scientists attribute this activity to bradyseism, a phenomenon in which underground pressure causes slow rising and falling of the ground. Most recent earthquakes have been relatively weak, but increasing seismic activity prompted the Italian government last year to approve new emergency measures and evacuation plans for hundreds of thousands of people living in the area. The tremor occurred on Friday evening at 7:46 PM local time, according to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC). The epicenter was located 13 kilometers west of Naples, with a hypocenter depth of approximately two kilometers below the surface. Residents in the affected area reported that the shaking lasted more than 20 seconds and was exceptionally strong. “It shook for 20 seconds, probably longer, and then the electricity went out,” wrote residents near the epicenter. “We are in Naples, the electricity went out in our apartment, the whole apartment shook, we don’t even have internet anymore,” “I was in a supermarket on the ground floor of a building, products fell off the shelves, and then suddenly the electricity went out,” “Shelves swayed left and right, monitors on the desk too, there was no damage, but it was really uncomfortable,” some of the comments posted on the EMSC platform. Authorities continue to monitor the situation, and so far there have been no reports of material damage or injured persons. In addition to the Naples area, a moderate earthquake of magnitude 3.6 struck the area around Sisak in Croatia on Saturday at 6:29 AM. According to the EMSC, the earthquake's intensity was IV on the EMS scale. Citizens described the experience as a loud bang and a strong shake. “Everything rang in my apartment,” “It sounded like a bomb exploded followed by a long rumble,” “I felt like my house was going to collapse,” “It shook well,” were some of the citizen testimonies. The epicenter was six kilometers southeast of Sisak, or about 56 kilometers southeast of Zagreb, at a depth of nine kilometers. On Wednesday morning at 4:21 AM, a mild earthquake of magnitude 3.1 struck the area east of Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina. According to the EMSC, the epicenter was about 12 kilometers east of Sarajevo at a depth of six kilometers. The earthquake was felt by many citizens in Sarajevo and surrounding areas, who shared their experiences on the EMSC website. “A noticeable shaking, a sound was heard,” wrote a resident of Lukavica. “Short but strong. Center of Sarajevo,” noted another resident from the village of Kobilja Glava. So far, there have been no reports of injuries or material damage. On Monday at 2:00 PM, a moderate earthquake of magnitude 3.1 struck the southern part of Bosnia and Herzegovina. According to the EMSC, the epicenter was 39 kilometers southeast of Mostar, or eight kilometers southeast of Stolac, at a depth of 6.3 kilometers. Due to the relatively shallow epicenter, the ground shaking could be felt in neighboring areas, including parts of southern Croatia. The Dubrovnik newspaper reported that residents in Dubrovnik and Župa Dubrovačka felt the tremor. There are currently no reports of potential material damage or injured individuals. On Saturday at 4:11 AM and 4:19 AM, the Seismological Service recorded two weak earthquakes with epicenters in the Slavonian zone. The magnitudes of the first and second earthquakes were 2.3 and 2.1 respectively on the Richter scale. The intensities of both earthquakes were III on the European Macroseismic Scale (EMS). Although these were not strong earthquakes, more than 150 comments from Croatian citizens who felt the tremor were recorded on the EMSC website. Some of them include: “Stubičke Toplice, it felt much stronger than written. It woke me up, it shook twice within a few minutes.” “Two times it was and it felt quite strongly both times.” “It shook, already the second time. It was felt with a rumble.” “I was sleeping and felt it on the bed as a short shake.” “Short but strong, followed by another weaker one.” On Thursday morning at 6:29 AM, an earthquake of magnitude 3.7 struck the Sisak area in Croatia. According to the EMSC, the epicenter was six kilometers southeast of Sisak, or about 56 kilometers southeast of Zagreb, at a depth of nine kilometers. Residents of Sisak and surrounding areas reported feeling a short but fairly strong impact with a rumble. “A short but fairly strong impact with a rumble,” some of the citizen testimonials. On Tuesday afternoon at 2:00 PM, an earthquake of magnitude 3.1 struck the southern part of Bosnia and Herzegovina. According to the EMSC, the epicenter was 39 kilometers southeast of Mostar, or eight kilometers southeast of Stolac, at a depth of 6.3 kilometers. Due to the relatively shallow epicenter, the ground shaking could be felt in neighboring areas, including parts of southern Croatia. The Dubrovnik newspaper reported that residents in Dubrovnik and Župa Dubrovačka felt the tremor. There are currently no reports of potential material damage or injured individuals.
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