Campi Flegrei west of Naples, Italy, has not had a single eruption since 1538.
Now experts fear that this could reverse.
It reports The Guardian.
Seismic activity at Campi Flegrei has increased in the last year and especially in the last few months. There have been more than 80 incidents early Wednesday morning. The largest earthquake had a magnitude of 4.2.
Campi Flegrei is a so-called supervolcano, which is the name given to volcanoes that have larger and more catastrophic eruptions than any known from human history, according to Large Norwegian encyclopedia.
– Sees no end
– We see no end, considering that seismic activity has only increased in recent months, Carlo Doglioni, president of Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, told TGCom24.
According to Doglioni, the best scenario is that the activity stops, while the worst would be an eruption similar to the last eruption in 1538.
– It monitors the situation, but we do not know how it will develop. If an eruption were to occur, we do not know when or where it might occur. No matter how small it is, it will cause unrest.
At least 360,000 people live near the volcanic area.
Suggested security checks
Earlier in June, a peer-reviewed study was published where it was concluded that “parts of the volcano have almost been stretched to breaking point”.
The study was carried out by researchers at Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, and University College London, according to The Guardian.
– There is a high risk of strong tremors, said director Giuseppe De Natale, at the national institute.
He added that he had contacted the municipal board of Naples, and suggested security checks on public buildings, such as schools and hospitals. And that necessary evacuation procedures should be adopted.
2023-09-29 05:18:22
#Trembling
