Italy prepares for possible evacuations from supervolcano near Naples

The Italian government is taking precautionary measures for a potential mass evacuation of tens of thousands of residents living around the Campi Flegrei supervolcano near Naples due to unusual ongoing seismic activity.

As reported by Euronews, these measures, which include assessing the structural integrity of buildings in the area, are being discussed at an upcoming cabinet meeting.

The region has experienced increased seismic activity, including a 4.2 magnitude earthquake on September 26, the strongest in four decades for that area. Experts believe this activity may be related to bradyseism, a phenomenon where the Earth's surface rises or falls due to the filling or emptying of underground magma chambers.

While most volcanologists do not believe there is an imminent eruption threat, the gradual ground rising at a rate of 1.5 cm per month has raised concerns about the potential impact on local buildings and infrastructure. These precautionary measures aim to ensure the safety of the population in the event of any future developments related to the volcano, which is much bigger than its famous neighbour Mount Vesuvius.