Don Maurizio Patriciello warns Campi Flegrei is a ticking time bomb

Don Maurizio Patriciello, an anti‑mafia priest in Naples, warned that the Campi Flegrei volcanic area in Campania faces a severe earthquake risk. He said recent tremors have reached magnitudes not seen in four decades and described the region as “a bomb on a timer.”

Patriciello urged immediate preventive action, including possible evacuation, stressing that “failing to act today means mourning dead tomorrow.” He criticized delays and political inertia, calling the neglect of scientific warnings a criminal error that could cost lives. He also highlighted the moral and civil duty of authorities to implement effective, proven safety measures despite the high human and financial costs of relocation.

The priest cited statements from Civil Protection head Fabio Ciciliano, who warned that a stronger shock could result in fatalities, reinforcing the call for urgent preparedness and public awareness.