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Italy's Super-Volcano: 500,000 Live on Edge
11 Nov
Summary
- Nearly 500,000 people live atop the Campi Flegrei caldera, a potentially dangerous volcano.
- Recent seismic activity has caused evacuations and deemed many buildings unsafe.
- Italy approved a 10-year plan including retrofitting and voluntary relocation incentives.
Italy faces a significant policy dilemma concerning the approximately 500,000 residents living atop the Campi Flegrei caldera, a vast and increasingly active super-volcano north of Naples. Recent years have seen a surge in forceful seismic activity, with a 4.7 magnitude earthquake in July 2026 displacing nearly 5,700 residents and making numerous buildings unsafe.
The Italian government has committed to a 10-year, €1bn plan for Campi Flegrei. This initiative includes subsidies for seismic retrofitting of private homes and enhanced emergency evacuation preparations. Ministers acknowledge the impossibility of eliminating risk but emphasize the duty to reduce exposure and vulnerability, also proposing financial incentives for voluntary relocation.
Scientists monitor Campi Flegrei, which last erupted in 1538, with intensive surveillance for seismic activity, gas emissions, and uplift. While an imminent eruption isn't predicted, an eventual eruption requiring mass evacuation remains a possibility, posing risks to inhabitants and infrastructure, including historic churches. Residents grapple with displacement and uncertainty, impacting local businesses and daily life.
