Italy Hit by Strongest Earthquake in 40 Years; Residents Forced to Camp Outdoors

Italy Hit by Strongest Earthquake: An earthquake has stuck the Italian city of Naples, forcing residents to camp outside or sleep in their cars after it shook buildings and brought rubble crashing down.

One local resident told GB News: "I was fast asleep when I heard a huge sound and started running outside, it was terrifying. Thankfully my house has not been damaged, the city centre and the area of Pozzuoli suffered the most damage."

The earthquake hit at 1:25 a.m. at a depth of two kilometers, according to Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV). It was one of the strongest tremors to affect the area in decades, matching the intensity of a quake last May—the most powerful to hit Campi Flegrei in 40 years.

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Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) said that there was "no evidence" that an eruption of nearby Mount Vesuvius was imminent.

According to the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV), the 4.4-magnitude quake caused panic among locals who fled to the streets with the epicentre located at a depth of around two miles between Naples and Pozzuoli.

In the nearby town of Pozzuoli, the ceiling of a home collapsed, seriously injuring a man who was pulled out of the rubble by firefighters, Italian newspaper Corriere Della Sera reported.

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In the seaside district Bagnoli, rescuers worked to free people trapped in their homes, with some residents climbing out windows, according to news agency ANSA.

Schools in Pozzuoli and two nearby neighbourhoods will be closed on Thursday so building stability checks can be carried out, the Corriere Della Sera newspaper reported.

Photos later emerged showing one damaged house and a car with a smashed windscreen.

A rescue co-ordination centre has been set up to assess the damage.

Mayor of the Naples municipality of Bacoli Josi Gerardo Della Ragione urged residents to "remain calm" and to get their information and updates from official channels.

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