The plan for vulnerability assessment of built-up areas affected by bradyseism in the Phlegraean Fields
The inspection results are essential for securing funding for anti-seismic interventions
On February 26, 2024, an Extraordinary plan was approved for the Phlegraean Fields intervention area, as outlined in Article 2 of Decree-Law 140/2023. This plan was jointly endorsed by the Minister for Civil Protection and Sea Policies and the Minister of Economy and Finance. The plan includes a seismic microzonation study, an assessment of the seismic vulnerability of both public and private buildings, and a program for seismic and structural monitoring. Its goal is to support seismic redevelopment strategies and to identify priorities for intervention within the building heritage of the area.
To support the seismic redevelopment of public buildings and to maintain the functionality of transport infrastructures and other essential services, the Prime Minister's Decree issued on July 17, 2024, has appointed Mr. Fulvio Maria Soccodato as the extraordinary commissioner responsible for implementing public works in the Phlegraean Fields area.
In the case of private buildings, the responsibility for coordinating activities lies with the Civil Protection Department. In collaboration with the municipalities in the intervention area and the Campania Region, the Department has initiated a seismic vulnerability assessment of private buildings used for residential purposes. This assessment involves a series of detailed steps outlined below.
Between March 25 and June 7, 2024, the first areal assessment was conducted on private residential buildings in Pozzuoli, Bacoli, and Naples municipalities. This inspection focused on areas most affected by bradyseism, as well as seismic activity and ground deformation.
The assessment was conducted through visual inspections carried out outside each building. Expert teams, coordinated by the Civil Protection Department and in collaboration with the Campania Region, worked alongside the local municipalities. These inspections utilized data-processing procedures to gather information on the construction and structural features of the buildings. The process involved using a form developed by the PLINIVS Study Centre at the LUPT Centre of Federico II University.
At the end of this initial phase of inspections, a map was created to present the findings from the areal assessment of the vulnerability of private buildings. Interested citizens can request further information regarding these findings.
The map is made up of 442 square cells, each assigned a different colour based on the estimated concentration of vulnerable buildings within that area. Buildings located in cells classified as having a 'high' or 'medium concentration of vulnerable buildings' will be prioritized for inspections.
Please note that the classification of cells is based on data collected from an external inspection of 9,078 buildings and holds solely statistical-probabilistic value.
The data collected during the areal inspection was organized in interactive graphs using a dedicated dashboard that illustrates the most representative features of the analyzed private building heritage.
Once the first assessment of the vulnerability of private buildings was completed, citizens had the opportunity to request, until August 31, 2025, a building inspection to determine their property's classification based on seismic vulnerability levels. Through the platform istanze.protezionecivile.gov.it, citizens can review the applications submitted and later find the results of the inspections.
As of August 31, a total of 1,370 inspection requests had been submitted. Out of these, 81 were related to the municipality of Bacoli, 522 to the municipality of Naples, and 767 to the municipality of Pozzuoli.
The municipalities have already provided interested citizens with vulnerability results for an initial group of buildings. These buildings are located in PLINIVS cells categorized as having "high" or "medium" vulnerability. This classification is based on the date the application was submitted and the inspections conducted, particularly those completed by July 15, 2025. Additional results will be communicated by the end of 2025.
The vulnerability classification outlined here will enable eligible individuals to access funds for the seismic redevelopment of private residential buildings located in the intervention area, as stipulated in the 2025 Budget Law. This initiative allocates €100 million—€20 million each year from 2025 to 2029—for anti-seismic interventions aimed primarily at private residential buildings in the intervention area. This funding is specifically for buildings that have not previously received contributions for damage repairs or seismic upgrades due to the earthquakes in May 2024 and March 2025. To determine eligibility for a contribution for the seismic upgrade of a building, applicants will need to await the publication of the Decree from the Minister for Civil Protection and Sea Policies, as outlined in Budget Law No. 207 of December 30, 2024.
It's important to remember that the vulnerability classification of private buildings is conducted using simplified procedures. This process does not consider any existing damage in the assessed building, for which specific contributions are provided. Additionally, it does not serve as a substitute for seismic verification according to the 2018 Technical Construction Standards (NTC). The purpose of this assessment is to determine eligibility for public funding for seismic redevelopment; it cannot predict how the building will perform during an earthquake. Therefore, it should not be relied upon as a reference for any current or potential structural or non-structural damage that the building may experience in future earthquakes.
