Dozens of unprecedented earthquakes cause panic in southern Italy

Rome, May 21 / WAM / Dozens of earthquakes of unprecedented magnitude in 40 years were recorded in Campi Flegrei near Naples in southern Italy, without causing major damage, but they terrified residents, according to what the authorities announced.

The National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology said that a 4.4-magnitude earthquake was recorded at 20:10 (16:10 pm GMT), at a depth of 2.5 kilometers, and minutes before that, a 3.5-magnitude earthquake struck, followed by dozens of aftershocks.

The institute explained in a statement today that, as of 19.51 pm yesterday (17.51 GMT), a series of tremors occurred in the Campi Flegrei area, which is a volcanic area, and 49 earthquakes were detected.

Mauro De Vito, from the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, pointed out that the series of earthquakes is the strongest in the past forty years, while firefighters reported cracks and falling slopes.

For his part, Luigi Manzoni, mayor of the city of Pozzuoli, said that schools will remain closed today, Tuesday, in Pozzuoli, where asylum centers have been opened and tents set up in a parking lot and a square on the seashore to receive terrified residents.

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