The Phlegrean Fields are a large volcanic region in Italy, located near Naples. In size, Campi Flegrei is significantly larger than neighboring Vesuvius, but inferior to it in popularity. However, everything may change soon: Italy is planning a possible evacuation due to a supervolcano.
After months of constant earthquakes, the government is taking steps to ensure the area is prepared for stronger tremors or eruptions.
Campi Flegrei or Phlegrean Fields, which means “burning” in Greek, are located about 20 km from Naples, the gateway to the picturesque Amalfi Coast. The caldera is dotted with 24 craters and is significantly larger in size than the nearby Vesuvius, which destroyed the ancient Roman city of Pompeii in 79.
Why is Italy planning a possible evacuation of the Naples area?
The Italian government is planning a mass evacuation of tens of thousands of people living near the Campi Flegrei supervolcano, officials said Thursday.
The new measures, including a scheme to test the strength of buildings in the area after months of repeated earthquakes, were due to be discussed at a cabinet meeting later in the day, the government said in a statement.
Campi Flegrei is dotted with towns and villages, including Pozzuoli, Agnano and Bacoli, with a total population of more than 500 thousand people.
More than 1,100 earthquakes have struck the area in the past month alone, including Monday’s 4.0-magnitude temblor and last week’s 4.2-magnitude quake, the area’s strongest in four decades.
Is it possible for the Campi Flegrei volcano to erupt?
Experts say the increased seismic activity is likely due to a phenomenon known as bradyseism, where the ground rises and falls in a cycle caused by the filling or emptying of underground magma chambers.
Most volcanologists say there is no immediate threat of an eruption, but with the ground currently rising at 1.5cm per month there is concern it could affect local buildings.
Civil Defense Minister Nello Musumeci said this week that evacuations would only be carried out in cases of “extreme necessity.”
The last time Campi Flegrei experienced a comparable outbreak of earthquakes was in the 1980s. Around 40,000 people were then temporarily evacuated from the nearby town of Pozzuoli.
The last significant eruption occurred in 1538. The volcano then erupted for eight days, throwing out enough lava, rocks and clouds of ash to form a new mountain. The 1980s saw another surge in activity, leading to the evacuation of 40,000 residents of nearby areas. Since then, the supervolcano has been relatively quiet.
What will happen if Campi Flegrei starts to erupt?
In the event of an eruption, local authorities have developed an evacuation plan. It stipulates that residents will be removed from the area by personal or public transport within three days. The risk levels – green, yellow, orange and red – are reviewed monthly.
The current danger level in Pozzuoli is yellow. Local residents also regularly receive text alerts about tremors measuring 1.5 or higher on the Richter scale.
Phlegrean Fields – in ancient Greek mythology, a volcanic region where Gigantomachy took place – the battle of the gods led by Zeus, helped by Hercules, with giants.