Earthquake in Pozzuoli: Is there a risk of a supervolcano eruption?

Earthquake in Pozzuoli: Is there a risk of a supervolcano eruption?

A magnitude 4.0 earthquake occurred in the Phlegraean Fields region near Naples on Monday, September 1, 2025 at 4:55 a.m. The epicenter was near the town of Pozzuoli, and it was the strongest earthquake since a new phase of seismic activity began on Saturday. At least 23 earthquakes were recorded in total in the early hours of Monday. So far, no major damage or injuries have been reported oe24 reported.

The prefect of Naples, Michele di Bari, responded by convening the Civil Defense Coordination Center. The Phlegraean Fields are known for their high volcanic activity and have been frequently hit by earthquakes in the past. Although stronger tremors have also been recorded in recent months, they are predominantly small and usually barely noticeable tremors.

Alert level and government measures

The area has been on a yellow alert level for eleven years, calling for caution. To counter the impact of constant tremors on infrastructure and buildings, the Italian government allocated 184 million euros in February to finance 50 projects. A major earthquake of magnitude 4.6 was recorded on June 30, 2025 and is considered the strongest in the last 40 years, as geosphere.at notes.

The area has a complex volcanic structure and has been active for over 80,000 years. Historically, there have been 27 volcanic eruptions there over the past 5,500 years, with the last occurring in 1538. The criteria for observing seismic activity are constantly monitored in order to quickly identify potential hazards.

Seismic analyzes and current research

Recent scientific findings about the Phlegraean Fields come from an analysis of earthquakes over the past decade by an international team that discovered new seismic signals. These signals indicate crack-like structures at about 3.5 km depth that connect magma and gas reservoirs to surface fumaroles, like this GFZ Helmholtz Center reported.

These structures show a length of about 1000 meters and an estimated height of 0.35 meters. Despite the active earthquakes and the observed ground uplift of up to 1.4 meters since 2005, there is currently no evidence of an impending volcanic eruption. Although there are regular changes in the region, the signs remain stable, indicating a controlled geophysical situation.

Continuous monitoring through seismic stations ensures that the population remains informed and possible risks can be averted in good time. The current situation in the Phlegraean Fields remains tense but under control.