Timeline

The Ingv reports that a seismic swarm has been occurring in the Phlegraean Fields area since the first hours of September 26, 2023. At 3:35 a.m., an earthquake of magnitude 4.2 is recorded. The local population feels the event, but it doesn't result in any damage.

Since 10:08 p.m. on October 2, Ingv has been detecting a seismic swarm in the Phlegraean Fields region, with the most significant event measuring a magnitude of 4.0 and felt by the community. No damage is reported.

Upon the Department of Civil Protection's request, the Major Risks Commission gathers for an update on the volcanic activity status and to discusss ways to enhance monitoring systems. The yellow alert level for the Phlegraean Fields is confirmed. Still,  due to the complex nature of the issue and the potential evolution of the volcano's dynamics, the Commission emphasizes the urgent need for more in-depth analysis.

A seminar addressed to an audience of about 200 geologists occurs at the "Porta del Parco" Auditorium in Naples. The objective is to update professionals on the technical and scientific issues regarding the current state of the Phlegraean caldera, discuss the monitoring activities of the Centers of Expertise, national and regional civil protection planning, and current or future actions in the area.

The government approves Decree-Law No. 140 to address the ongoing bradyseism crisis in the Phlegraean Fields area. The decree outlines structural and non-structural preventive measures that the Civil Protection System will take to manage the complex risk situation effectively.

Upon request of the Department of Civil Protection, the Major Risks Commission meets for further technical and scientific analysis of the ongoing phenomena occurring in the Phlegraean Fields area. The meeting considers the opinions of several Italian and foreign experts with specific experience in the Phlegraean Fields.

By resolutions of the Mayor of the Metropolitan City of Naples, dated November 17, 2023, and February 1, 2024, the plan regarding the needs of the municipalities of Bacoli, Naples, and Pozzuoli, as foreseen in Article 6 of Decree-Law 140/2023, is approved. The plan includes the recruitment of personnel to carry out activities at municipal facilities, the procurement of materials, means, and tools to guarantee the effectiveness of these activities, and the establishment of temporary areas and facilities for the possible sheltering of the population.

As part of the urgent measures, Article 3 of Decree-Law No. 140/2023  foresees the production of a Communication Plan to inform the public about risks, civil protection plans, and appropriate actions to be taken in affected areas, with particular attention to people with disabilities. The Campania Region coordinates the plan in conjunction with the Department and the Centers of Expertise.

Decree-Law No. 140/2023 "Urgent measures for the prevention of seismic risk related to the bradyseism phenomenon in the Phlegraean Fields area" becomes Law No. 183.

Article 4 of Decree-Law No. 140 foresees this planning, which results from the need to define a specific strategy and operational procedures to address the effects and potential consequences of bradyseism. The plan is drafted by the Department of Civil Protection in conjunction with the Campania Region, the Prefecture—UTG of Naples, and the relevant local authorities and administrations. The plan considers the risk knowledge developed by the Centers of Expertise.

The Major Risks Commission appreciates INGV's efforts to strengthen and implement the monitoring system. According to the data analysis conducted by the Centers of Expertise, the bradyseism phenomenon is still active despite the slowdown observed in recent months. The yellow alert level remains valid.

A section about the bradyseism phenomenon in the Phlegraean area and the ongoing crisis is published on the websites of the Civil Protection Department and the Campania Region, as per the Communication Plan. The texts are written jointly, with contributions from Ingv's Vesuvius Observatory and the PLINIVS Study Centre.

In accordance with Article 5 of Decree-Law No. 140, the Campania Region, in collaboration with the affected municipalities, is responsible for coordinating activities to assess and identify critical issues that need to be addressed to ensure the proper functioning of transportation infrastructure, essential services, and to support the updating of planning for bradyseism. The "Urgent measures to verify the functionality of transportation infrastructure and other essential services" are approved by Resolution No. 7 of the Regional Council of January 10, 2024.

The Department coordinates an extraordinary plan for vulnerability analysis of building heritage and local risk in built-up areas through a new seismic microzonation study approved by the Decree of the Minister for Civil Protection and Sea Policies in consultation with the Minister of the Economy and Finance. The activities described in the Plan, provided for in Article 2 of Decree-Law No. 140, involve the "intervention area."

The Prefecture in Naples hosts a meeting with the Minister for Civil Protection and Sea Policies to discuss the status of the implementation of Decree-Law 140/2023. The Civil Protection Department, Campania Region, Ingv Vesuvius Observatory, Municipality of Naples, Metropolitan City of Naples and the municipalities of Bacoli and Pozzuoli attend the meeting.

The Major Risks Commission meets for a new session on the ongoing phenomena in the Phlegraean Fields area. Experts from the international scientific community in volcanology, with specific experience in phreatic eruptions, attend the meeting for a detailed discussion.

In Naples, at Palazzo Armieri, the Campania Region, Civil Protection Department, and INGV organize a training course for the Association of Journalists of Campania as part of the activities planned in the Communication Plan, Art.3 of Decree-Law No. 140. The course seeks to promote correct and consistent information to the public on the volcanic risk and bradyseism phenomenon affecting the Phlegraean area and civil protection planning activities.

Ordinance No. 1081 sets out the rules for conducting inspections to assess the seismic vulnerability of private buildings as part of the Extraordinary Plan (Art. 2 of DL 140/2023). This regulation outlines the procedures for collecting data on building conditions and specifies the technicians' employment rules. The Civil Protection Department coordinates these activities with the Campania Region and the municipalities involved.

Start of training activities for civil protection volunteers of the Campania Region, foreseen within the framework of the Communication Plan, art.3 of DL 140. The two-day course covers topics related to volcanic risk, the bradyseism phenomenon, emergency planning activities, and communication activities to the population.

Teams of technicians start assessment activities on private residential buildings located in the areas of Pozzuoli, Bacoli, and Naples municipalities that are most affected by bradyseism ("intervention area"). At the end of this first phase of inspections, a summary map identifying the most vulnerable areas is produced.

Department of Civil Protection and Campania Region meet with the Prefecture of Naples and municipalities in the Phlegraean red zone to present the schedule of exercises foreseen by Art. 4 of Decree-Law 140/2023. These exercises, scheduled for April, May, and October 2024, are designed to test planning methods concerning the bradyseism phenomenon and volcanic risk in the Phlegraean Fields.

Start of training courses at the Campania Region Auditorium in Naples on the bradyseism phenomenon and volcanic risk in the Phlegraean Fields for public officials engaged in civil protection activities and members of educational institutions in the area. These courses aim to encourage among public officials the dissemination of knowledge of volcanic and the bradyseism phenomena affecting the area and the resulting Civil Protection planning.

The Municipality of Pozzuoli, Campania Region, and the Civil Protection Department jointly hold the meeting to inform citizens of the ongoing phenomenon of bradyseism in the Phlegraean Fields. The event, which takes place at the Pozzuoli Municipal Operations Center (Centro Operativo Comunale—COC), is part of the Communication Plan foreseen by Art. 3 of DL 140/2023. The meeting aims to answer the most frequently asked questions of citizens.