The ground is moving in Naples. If you've been scrolling through social media lately, you’ve probably seen the headlines. "Supervolcano waking up." "Massive swarm hits Italy." It sounds like a disaster movie script. Honestly, the reality is a bit more nuanced—and arguably more interesting—than the clickbait suggests.
People are scared. You can't blame them. When the floor of your kitchen literally starts rising, "stay calm" is a big ask.
The Campi Flegrei Situation Right Now
The recent seismic activity isn't coming from the famous Mount Vesuvius to the east. It’s coming from the west. Underneath the colorful streets of Pozzuoli and the western fringes of Naples lies Campi Flegrei, or the "Phlegraean Fields."
This isn't a mountain. It’s a caldera—a massive, sunken volcanic area that’s home to over 500,000 people.
We’ve seen a significant uptick in tremors over the last year. In early 2025, a magnitude 4.6 earthquake rattled the region, the strongest in decades. Just this week, in January 2026, the sensors at the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) have been lighting up again. On January 16, a magnitude 2.2 quake hit at a super shallow depth of about 3 kilometers.
That’s the thing about a Naples earthquake. They aren't deep. Because they happen so close to the surface, even a "small" 2.5 feels like a truck just slammed into your front door.
Why the Ground is Growing
Scientists call this phenomenon bradyseism. Basically, the ground moves up and down like it’s breathing. Since 2005, the area has been in an "up" phase. In some spots, the earth has risen more than 1.1 meters (about 3.6 feet) in the last two decades.
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Is it magma? Probably not.
Experts like Giovanni Macedonio from the INGV suggest that the current shaking is mostly caused by "hydrothermal" pressure. Think of it like a giant, underground pressure cooker. Gases and superheated steam are pushing against the Earth's crust. The crust gets brittle. It cracks. Boom—you get a swarm.
Real Talk: Is Naples Safe to Visit?
If you have a trip booked for 2026, you're likely hovering over the "cancel" button.
Don't. Not yet, anyway.
Most of the city of Naples—including the historic center, the Spanish Quarters, and the port—is technically outside the "Red Zone." The Red Zone is the high-risk area specifically for Campi Flegrei. Major tourist hubs like Pompeii, Herculaneum, and the Amalfi Coast are miles away from this specific volcanic system. They sit near Vesuvius, which is currently very quiet.
The tremors are localized. If you’re staying in Sorrento, you won't even feel them. If you’re in a hotel in central Naples, you might feel a slight vibration, but it's rarely enough to tip over a glass of water.
What the Experts are Actually Saying
There is a "Yellow Alert" currently in place for the Phlegraean area. This isn't a "run for your lives" warning. It means "pay attention."
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Stanford researcher Xing Tan recently used AI to map over 54,000 tiny tremors in the region. His team discovered a "ring fault" beneath Pozzuoli. This sounds terrifying, but it's actually great news for safety. It means scientists now know exactly where the stress is building. Instead of guessing, they can pinpoint which neighborhoods might see more shaking.
They aren't predicting an eruption. They're predicting more earthquakes. A magnitude 5.0 is "not out of the question," according to geophysicists. That would cause some real damage to older buildings, but it's a far cry from the end of the world.
Life in the Red Zone
Imagine living in a place where the sea level "drops" because the land is actually rising. That’s Pozzuoli.
The locals are tough. They've lived through this before, notably in the early 1980s when the ground rose so fast that thousands had to be evacuated from the Rione Terra district. Today, children still go to school, and people still argue over espresso, even if the walls have a few new cracks.
However, the Italian government isn't taking chances. In late 2025, they held massive evacuation drills. They tested "waiting areas" where buses would pick up residents if the alert level ever hit "Red."
- Red Zone: Immediate evacuation required if an eruption is imminent. Includes Pozzuoli, Bacoli, and parts of Naples like Fuorigrotta.
- Yellow Zone: High risk of ash fall. Might require temporary relocation.
- The Rest of Naples: Mostly unaffected by the volcanic risk, though still subject to general regional seismicity.
Practical Steps If You Are in the Area
If you're in Naples and the ground starts to dance, forget the "supervolcano" drama for a second and just follow standard earthquake safety.
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Drop, Cover, and Hold On. Don't run outside if you're in a narrow Neapolitan alleyway—balconies and masonry are the biggest risks. Stay under a sturdy table. Once the shaking stops, then move to an open area.
Stay Informed, Not Panicked.
The best resource is the INGV website. They have a real-time map of every single tremor. If the "swarms" get frequent, you’ll see it there first.
Check Your Accommodation.
If you're staying in an Airbnb in the Campi Flegrei area (like Pozzuoli or Agnano), check if the building has been reinforced. Most modern hotels in the city center are built to handle moderate tremors without an issue.
Know the Evacuation Routes.
If you are staying in the Red Zone, look for the "Area di Attesa" (Waiting Area) signs. It’s better to know where they are and never need them than the alternative.
The Bottom Line
The Naples earthquake situation is a story of a restless giant, but it’s a giant that is being watched by more sensors and satellites than almost any other spot on Earth. It's a reminder that Naples isn't just a museum; it's a living, breathing geological wonder.
You should absolutely go. Eat the pizza. Walk the ruins. Just keep one eye on the local news and understand that a little shaking is just the Earth's way of reminding us who’s really in charge.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Download the "INGVterremoti" app. It gives you official, real-time data directly from the scientists.
- Locate your embassy's contact info. If you're a traveler, register with your home country's travel notification system (like STEP for Americans).
- Plan your geography. If you're worried about seismic activity, book your stay on the eastern side of Naples or toward the Amalfi Coast to stay well away from the Campi Flegrei caldera.