At least 11 people hospitalised as Italy’s Naples struck by 4.4-magnitude earthquake, strongest in 40 years

The earthquake that hit Naples was the strongest in the past 40 years around the Phlegrean Fields, an area which is around ancient volcanoes that covers the broad Naples metropolitan area.

Debris is seen on a car following an earthquake north of Naples, Italy. (Alessandro Garofalo/LaPresse via AP)

Mayor Gaetano Manfredi informed that one church, a seven-story residential building and another building were declared off-limits due to the damage caused by the earthquake. Some schools in Naples were also shut as part of the precautionary measures.

Mayor Manfredi said that inspectors were looking for further damages to the infrastructure. “We are following with the greatest attention all of our structures, and are monitoring all events in real time,” Manfredi added, according to Associated Press.

People seek safety in the streets following an earthquake north of Naples, Italy. (Alessandro Garofalo/LaPresse via AP)

Though the area which witnessed the earthquake has experienced several mini quakes in the past, the one that struck the country on Thursday was reported to be the strongest in recent times, as per the locals.

“I was sleeping, and suddenly I heard a terrible bang, I had never heard one so loud,” said Raffaele Cipollano, a local resident in Naples, reported Reuters.

The authorities informed that one person was rescued from the rubble of a partially collapsed house by the emergency team.