Pozzuoli, a picturesque town in the metropolitan city of Naples, Italy, is steeped in a rich history dating back to its founding as the Greek colony of Dicaarchia around 531 BC. Over the centuries, it has been touched by the hands of the Greeks, Samnites and Romans, each leaving their indelible mark on its cultural and architectural heritage. The city, nestled in the Phlegrean Peninsula, has ancient ruins like the Flavian Amphitheater, the third largest in Italy, and the Macellum, known as the Temple of Serapis, which bears witness to its ancient markets and its bustling trade.
However, Pozzuoli is not only known for its historical importance. It sits atop a choppy piece of Earth. According to a Wall Street Journal report, Pozzuoli has felt more than 2,500 tremors since August 2023. However, the occurrence of a magnitude 4.2 tremor on September 27, the most powerful earthquake to shake the volcanic field in over of four decades, has raised concerns among experts. that a “seismic crisis” could occur, which would be the first such event since the early 1980s.
The big quake, although it did not cause major structural damage, along with some 2,500 smaller earthquakes since August, left residents, including Annamaria Scardi, mother of two teenagers, feeling on edge. In Pozzuoli, conversations in shops and cafes moved from the usual topics of football and politics to the palpable fear of the population, stirred up by a supervolcano this triggered a series of earthquakes.
“Even these small earthquakes scare us,” Annamaria Scardi, mother of two teenagers, told AFP. “We are worried because (we are supposed to) flee. But where are we going? Where? This is the situation. We are out of breath.”
“My family is divided… I want to stay, but my wife and my children are looking for a house in the Castel Volturno district,” Vincenzo Russo told AFP.
“When you sleep at night, the nightmare is always there. You forget the situation and you are on the couch, and then the tremor is there with you. There are big ones and small ones. Yesterday, for example, we had had two little shakes before lunch,” he said.
Magma in motion
This is mainly because Pozzuoli sits atop a dormant supervolcano known as Campi Flegrei, or Phlegrean Fields. The Phlegrean Fields is a large volcanic area composed of numerous craters and calderas, some of which are filled with water and form lakes. The region is also rich in geothermal activity, such as fumaroles, hot springs and mud pools.
Shaking is caused by the movement of magma and fluids at depth, which creates pressure and stress on the rocks above. This phenomenon is called bradyseism and can also cause the ground to rise or fall, sometimes by several meters, over time. Bradyseism can destabilize buildings and infrastructure and present a risk of landslides and tsunamis.
Campi Flegrei is one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world, due to its size, complexity and proximity to a densely populated area. It has erupted several times in the past, most recently in 1538, when it formed a new cone called Monte Nuovo. However, its most catastrophic eruption occurred around 39,000 years ago, when it spewed around 300 cubic kilometers of ash and pumice, covering most of southern Europe and affecting the global climate .
Scientists closely monitor the Campi Flegrei, using various instruments and methods, such as seismometers, GPS, satellite images and gas measurements. They attempt to understand the dynamics and evolution of the volcanic system, as well as assess the probability and magnitude of a future eruption. They also work with local authorities and communities to prepare for a possible emergency, such as a mass evacuation or humanitarian crisis.
(With contribution from agencies)
However, Pozzuoli is not only known for its historical importance. It sits atop a choppy piece of Earth. According to a Wall Street Journal report, Pozzuoli has felt more than 2,500 tremors since August 2023. However, the occurrence of a magnitude 4.2 tremor on September 27, the most powerful earthquake to shake the volcanic field in over of four decades, has raised concerns among experts. that a “seismic crisis” could occur, which would be the first such event since the early 1980s.
The big quake, although it did not cause major structural damage, along with some 2,500 smaller earthquakes since August, left residents, including Annamaria Scardi, mother of two teenagers, feeling on edge. In Pozzuoli, conversations in shops and cafes moved from the usual topics of football and politics to the palpable fear of the population, stirred up by a supervolcano this triggered a series of earthquakes.
“Even these small earthquakes scare us,” Annamaria Scardi, mother of two teenagers, told AFP. “We are worried because (we are supposed to) flee. But where are we going? Where? This is the situation. We are out of breath.”
“My family is divided… I want to stay, but my wife and my children are looking for a house in the Castel Volturno district,” Vincenzo Russo told AFP.
“When you sleep at night, the nightmare is always there. You forget the situation and you are on the couch, and then the tremor is there with you. There are big ones and small ones. Yesterday, for example, we had had two little shakes before lunch,” he said.
Magma in motion
This is mainly because Pozzuoli sits atop a dormant supervolcano known as Campi Flegrei, or Phlegrean Fields. The Phlegrean Fields is a large volcanic area composed of numerous craters and calderas, some of which are filled with water and form lakes. The region is also rich in geothermal activity, such as fumaroles, hot springs and mud pools.
Shaking is caused by the movement of magma and fluids at depth, which creates pressure and stress on the rocks above. This phenomenon is called bradyseism and can also cause the ground to rise or fall, sometimes by several meters, over time. Bradyseism can destabilize buildings and infrastructure and present a risk of landslides and tsunamis.
Campi Flegrei is one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world, due to its size, complexity and proximity to a densely populated area. It has erupted several times in the past, most recently in 1538, when it formed a new cone called Monte Nuovo. However, its most catastrophic eruption occurred around 39,000 years ago, when it spewed around 300 cubic kilometers of ash and pumice, covering most of southern Europe and affecting the global climate .
Scientists closely monitor the Campi Flegrei, using various instruments and methods, such as seismometers, GPS, satellite images and gas measurements. They attempt to understand the dynamics and evolution of the volcanic system, as well as assess the probability and magnitude of a future eruption. They also work with local authorities and communities to prepare for a possible emergency, such as a mass evacuation or humanitarian crisis.
(With contribution from agencies)
