Emergency crews inspect damage in the Campi Flegrei area after a magnitude 4.7 earthquake struck near Naples, disrupting transport and causing minor structural damage.

Magnitude 4.7 Earthquake Shakes Naples Area, Damaging Buildings

NAPLES, Italy — July 31, 2026

A magnitude 4.7 earthquake struck the Campi Flegrei volcanic area near Naples on Friday evening, causing power outages, disrupting public transport and damaging several buildings, according to Italian authorities.

The earthquake occurred at 7:46 p.m. local time with its epicenter in the Campi Flegrei area west of Naples at a depth of about 3 kilometers, Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology said.

Emergency services reported minor structural damage in Naples and nearby communities. The Italian fire service said crews had inspected affected areas but had not received immediate requests to rescue residents or respond to serious emergencies.

As a precaution, local rail and metro services were temporarily suspended while authorities assessed infrastructure and safety conditions.

Italian media described the earthquake as one of the strongest recorded in the Campi Flegrei area. Residents in several neighborhoods left their homes and gathered outdoors after feeling the strong shaking.

Campi Flegrei is a large volcanic caldera beneath western Naples and one of Europe's most closely monitored volcanic regions. The area has experienced increasingly frequent seismic activity in recent years, leading the Italian government to strengthen monitoring and emergency preparedness.

Although minor earthquakes are common around Campi Flegrei, stronger tremors have raised concerns about a repeat of the seismic crisis of the early 1980s, when persistent earthquake activity forced thousands of residents to leave their homes.

Italy is regularly affected by earthquakes due to its location on active geological fault lines. In 2016, a series of powerful earthquakes struck central Italy, killing around 300 people and causing widespread destruction across parts of Lazio, Umbria and the Marche regions.

The country's deadliest recent earthquake occurred in southern Italy's Irpinia region in November 1980. The magnitude 6.9 disaster killed about 2,700 people and destroyed hundreds of towns.

Authorities continued monitoring the situation following Friday's earthquake. No fatalities or serious injuries had been reported at the time of publication.