An earthquake has stuck Naples, forcing residents to camp outside or sleep in their cars.
Seismologists said the tremor struck at 1.25am and a depth of about two miles, disrupting power supply in parts of the city.
Local media reports the earthquake was felt in several areas of the Campania region.
One local resident told GB News: "I was fast asleep when I heard a huge sound and started running outside, it was terrifying. Thankfully my house has not been damaged, the city centre and the area of Pozzuoli suffered the most damage."
Naples sits on the Phlegraean Fields, a volcanic basin that makes the area in southern Italy prone to quakes.
Rescuers worked through the night to free people trapped in their homes, with some residents climbing out windows.
Corriere Della Sera newspaper reports schools in Pozzuoli and two nearby neighbourhoods will be closed.
According to the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV), the 4.4-magnitude quake caused panic among locals who fled to the streets with the epicentre located at a depth of around two miles between Naples and Pozzuoli.
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Photos later emerged showing one damaged house and a car with a smashed windscreen.
A rescue co-ordination centre has been set up to assess the damage.
Mayor of the Naples municipality of Bacoli Josi Gerardo Della Ragione urged local residents to "remain calm" and to get their information and updates from official channels.
Find Out More...
Seismologists said the tremor struck at 1.25am and a depth of about two miles, disrupting power supply in parts of the city.
Local media reports the earthquake was felt in several areas of the Campania region.
One local resident told GB News: "I was fast asleep when I heard a huge sound and started running outside, it was terrifying. Thankfully my house has not been damaged, the city centre and the area of Pozzuoli suffered the most damage."
Naples sits on the Phlegraean Fields, a volcanic basin that makes the area in southern Italy prone to quakes.
Rescuers worked through the night to free people trapped in their homes, with some residents climbing out windows.
Corriere Della Sera newspaper reports schools in Pozzuoli and two nearby neighbourhoods will be closed.
According to the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV), the 4.4-magnitude quake caused panic among locals who fled to the streets with the epicentre located at a depth of around two miles between Naples and Pozzuoli.
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Photos later emerged showing one damaged house and a car with a smashed windscreen.
A rescue co-ordination centre has been set up to assess the damage.
Mayor of the Naples municipality of Bacoli Josi Gerardo Della Ragione urged local residents to "remain calm" and to get their information and updates from official channels.
Find Out More...