Earthquake near Naples: €100 million released to repair damaged buildings

The Italian government has allocated €100 million following the 4,7 magnitude earthquake that struck the Phlegraean Fields near Naples on July 31. Initial inspections led to 395 homes being declared uninhabitable and approximately 700 people being evacuated, while 26 injuries were reported.

The Italian government has released 100 million euros to finance the first interventions on buildings damaged by the earthquake that occurred on July 31 in the Phlegraean Fields region, west of Naples.

The work must be concentrated mainly in the municipality of Pozzuoli, where inspections carried out by firefighters and technicians have led to 395 homes being declared uninhabitable.

The preliminary assessment of the earthquake

100 million euros released by the Italian government

A 4,7 magnitude earthquake was recorded at a depth of approximately 3 kilometers.

395 homes deemed uninhabitable following initial inspections

Approximately 700 people were evacuated , including 128 still housed in hotels.

26 people injured , mainly in the town of Pozzuoli

A budget primarily intended for buildings in Pozzuoli

"Following the earthquake of July 31 to August 1, the government has released 100 million euros to repair the damage suffered by buildings located mainly in the territory of the municipality of Pozzuoli," said Nello Musumeci, Italian Minister of Civil Protection and Maritime Policies, after the Council of Ministers meeting.

The details of how this funding will be allocated and the conditions for awarding aid have not yet been specified. Inspections must continue in order to assess the extent of the damage and determine which buildings can be reoccupied, repaired, or require more extensive work.

395 homes declared uninhabitable

At this stage, 395 homes have been declared uninhabitable and evacuated. Approximately 700 people are affected by these safety measures.

According to Nello Musumeci, 568 people have already found alternative accommodation on their own. The authorities are still housing 128 residents in hotels.

The Italian Civil Protection agency also reported 26 injured, 21 of whom were treated in Pozzuoli and five in Giugliano. The earthquake also caused the collapse of several unoccupied buildings.

A 4,7 magnitude tremor at shallow depth

The earthquake occurred on Friday, July 31st at 19:46 PM local time, or 17:46 PM GMT. Its epicenter was located approximately 3 kilometers deep between the towns of Pozzuoli and Quarto.

This shallow depth helps explain the intensity with which the tremor was felt in neighboring towns. According to the Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV), it is the most powerful earthquake recorded in the Phlegraean Fields in forty years.

The Phlegraean Fields under permanent surveillance

Located west of Naples, the Phlegraean Fields form a vast, active volcanic caldera encompassing several densely urbanized municipalities. The area is under constant surveillance due to its seismic activity and the phenomenon of bradyseism, characterized by slow uplift or subsidence of the ground.

The inspections carried out after the earthquake are intended to identify structural damage and risks associated with aftershocks. Authorities are asking residents to report any cracks or damage that appear in their homes to facilitate technical assessments.