Italy is preparing for possible evacuations from a supervolcano near Naples, with the government working to ensure that the necessary measures are in place in case there is a need for the residents to leave the area.
Campi Flegrei is some 20 kilometres away from Naples, a popular destination for tourists, especially because of the picturesque Amalfi Coast.
The Italian government is discussing precautionary measures such as checking the structure of buildings in the area and planning the mass evacuation of those living near the volcano, as earlier this year, Italy was hit by several earthquakes and natural disasters.
Campi Flegrei is bordered by towns and villages, including Pozzuoli, Agnano and Bacoli, with a combined population of more than 500,000.
The Italian territory has been hit by more than 1,100 earthquakes in the last month alone, including one with 4.0 magnitudes on Monday and a 4.2 magnitude quake last week – the strongest in the area record in all four decades.
According to experts, the volcano is not necessarily a serious threat of eruption, but it could impact local buildings, especially due to the ground currently rising by 1.5 centimetres every month. Civil Protection Minister Nello Musumeci said this week evacuations would only be triggered in case of “extreme necessity”.
The authorities are also expected to engage more resources to local civil protection to make sure they can intervene in case of emergency and also raise awareness through communication campaigns.
The hospitals in the area are reportedly also starting evacuation tests in order to prevent casualties, as the last time Campi Flegrei suffered a burst of earthquakes, which was in the 80ies, some 40,000 people were evacuated by Pozzuoli.
Earlier this year, Italy had a rough start to the summer season as by the beginning of it, in May, the region of Emilia-Romagna was flooded due to heavy rains and storms. The situation left four people dead, and thousands of people were evacuated from their homes – more specifically, 23,000 evacuees distributed among Ravenna, Forlì, Bologna, and Rimini were recorded during this period.
In order to avoid unexpected expenses, travellers to Italy are advised to purchase travel insurance, which protects them in cases of emergencies, including natural disasters.
