Magnitude of the 1980 earthquake in Naples vs. that of March 13, 2025: they are not comparable!

Written by Julia Altavilla
Article contents

Many, after the earthquake of 13 March 2025 ai Campi Flegrei, they searched for information on the 1980 earthquake in Irpinia, to make a comparison between the magnitudes. Fortunately, the two events are incomparable., both for the energy released and for the effects on the population. The earthquake of 1980 was devastating, while that of the 2025 it is absolutely not definable at that level.

The 1980 Earthquake: A Catastrophic Event

The shock of the 1980, with a'intensity equal to the IX degree of the Mercalli scale, hit a vast area between Campania and Basilicata. Thethe epicenter was located between the provinces of Salerno and Potenzaa hypocenter about 10 km deepThe earthquake destroyed entire villages and left hundreds of thousands of people homeless.

In contrast, the Earthquake of March 13, 2025 was a surface event with epicenter a Pozzuoli, registered at only 2,5 km deepIt was precisely this characteristic that made the shock particularly felt by the population, although no extensive collapses occurred.

Differences in effects and responses

In 1980, the emergency management system was still rudimentary. Civil protection, as we know it today, did not yet exist and relief efforts arrived late. Reconstruction operations were slow and, twenty years after the earthquake, many people were still living in temporary accommodation.

In 2025, instead, the response was immediate. The Municipal Operations Center (COC) he immediately took action, preparing waiting and reception areas for the population in Naples and Bagnoli. The damage was limited, thanks also to greater preparation and more resistant buildings.

Seismic risk at Campi Flegrei: what to expect?

The Phlegraean area is subject to bradyseism, a phenomenon of raising and lowering of the ground that can trigger frequent seismic events. The Earthquake of March 13, 2025 falls within this dynamic and could be followed by other shocks. According to the experts of theINGV, there are no signs of magma rising, but the population must remain vigilant.

The two earthquakes, despite the many researches on these earthquakes, are absolutely not comparable. 1980 remains a catastrophic event in terms of victims and damage, while that of 2025 is part of the seismic activity typical of the Campi Flegrei. The main difference lies in the emergency management, which is now more efficient and allows for a rapid response to protect the population.

Monitoring the territory and following the indications of the civil protection remains the best strategy to address seismic risk in a geologically active area such as Campania.

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