A 4.4 Magnitude Earthquake Shakes the Campi Flegrei
Wow. A 4.4 magnitude earthquake hit the Campi Flegrei region at 1:25 AM on March 13th, 2025. It really shook things up – people felt it strongly in the Naples metro area and surrounding neighborhoods. The quake, only 2.5 km deep, triggered a whole swarm of aftershocks; 44 in total, with 9 registering between 1.0 and 1.7 magnitude. This is a summary of events and the latest info from the Vesuvius Observatory-INGV.
Bradisism: The Slow-Motion Earthquake
The Campi Flegrei's earthquake activity is closely linked to bradisism – that's the slow up-and-down movement of the ground. The current bradisismic crisis, starting in 2005, has caused the ground to rise about 140 cm in the central caldera area. And get this – the rate of uplift has seriously sped up recently. In February and March 2025, we saw around 30 mm of uplift per month, compared to just 10 mm in August 2024. Similar sized quakes have happened before, but this rapid acceleration of the bradisism is definitely raising eyebrows.
Strong Shaking and What We Measured
Thanks to a new accelerometric network, we've got some pretty detailed shaking maps. They show some seriously high ground acceleration values (between 0.6 and 1g) in certain areas, particularly around Solfatara and Pozzuoli. People felt the quake over a wide area, from Bacoli in the east all the way to the eastern neighborhoods of Naples. The “Did you feel it?” questionnaires reported shaking intensities up to V degree MCS.
Volcanic Eruption: Is It Coming?
No, there’s no evidence of an imminent volcanic eruption right now. While some parameters like ground deformation rates and CO2 emissions show changes, other geophysical and geochemical parameters aren't showing significant anomalies. The Vesuvius Observatory-INGV is, of course, keeping a very close eye on everything.
What Does This All Mean?
This March 13th earthquake is a significant event, highlighting the importance of continuous monitoring of the Phlegraean Fields. While the volcanic eruption risk isn't currently high, we'll likely see more seismic activity as long as the ground keeps rising. Staying updated with official communications from the Vesuvius Observatory-INGV is crucial. It's all about staying informed and prepared.
