A 3.9-magnitude earthquake hit the area around Mount Vesuvius near Naples in southern Italy this morning. This was reported by the APA agency, which refers to data from the Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV). The tremors were also clearly felt in some Neapolitan districts, but the authorities did not immediately report any major damage or injuries, the DPA agency reported.
Residents of Naples reported tremors lasting several minutes on social media, with some taking to the streets fearing the consequences of the earthquake. According to INGV, the epicenter of the earthquake was located at a depth of three kilometers in a densely populated area on the slope of the volcano east of Naples.
In recent weeks, tremors in the Vesuvius area have been reported repeatedly. The last eruption of this volcano took place in 1944, starting on March 18 and lasting ten days. The eruption claimed 26 lives, and the authorities evacuated over 10,000 people because of it. In 79, the eruption of Vesuvius destroyed the ancient city of Pompeii.
The inhabitants of Pompeii were caught unprepared by the disaster, and many of them were then faithfully captured by the congealed ashes in their last moments of life. The Archaeological Park of Pompeii, which is also a UNESCO monument, is one of the most visited places in Italy.
