Residents flee into streets as Naples hit by 4.4-magnitude earthquake

A powerful earthquake struck the southern Italian city of Naples on Thursday, jolting many from their sleep with violent tremors and sending some into the streets.

Italy’s National Institute of Geophyics and Volcanology said the 4.4-magnitude quake hit the Phlegraean Fields, an area of high volcanic activity that extends from the western outskirts of the city into the Mediterranean Sea, at 5:51 am (0351 GMT).

There was no immediate damage reported from the earthquake, one of the strongest to hit the region in recent years.

Last year, a quake measuring magnitude 4.6 was recorded in the Phlegraean Fields.

The epicentre of the latest earthquake on Thursday was in the sea off the suburbs of Pozzuoli and Bacoli. Tremors were felt across various districts of Naples, which lies at the foot of Mount Vesuvius.

Several schools remained closed on Thursday as a precautionary measure. Around 3 million people live in the city and its immediate surroundings.