The area around the southern Italian city of Naples was rocked by an earthquake on Monday evening, the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (NIGV) said, measuring the magnitude of the 4.4 earthquake, reported DPA, quoted by BTA.
The earthquake struck around 8:10 p.m. As has often happened in recent months, the epicenter was in the Phlegrean Fields, a highly volcanic area just a few kilometers from the center of the southern city.
The US Geological Survey put the magnitude at 4.2.
According to media reports, the tremor was clearly felt not only in the cities near the Phlegraean Fields, but also in Naples, including the port area. Initially, there were no reports of casualties or major damage.
The fire department said residents reported cracks in some houses and pieces of building facades falling. Emergency services are on the scene to assess the situation.
Some frightened residents fled into the street as some houses, especially near the epicenter, were literally shaken to their foundations, the newspaper "Corriere del Mezzogiorno" reported. The brief but strong earthquake was preceded by weaker tremors.
NIGV registered several more weaker tremors in the following hours. At 9:45 p.m., the institute registered a 3.9-magnitude tremor, followed by a 3.6-magnitude tremor at 11:00 p.m. A total of about 150 tremors hit the area in less than five hours, as of 7:50 p.m. . on Monday.