INGV highlights volcano and earthquake safety measures in southern Italy

The Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) is emphasizing preparedness for two major geological hazards in the south of Italy.

Geologist Lucia Pappalardo, director of the Vesuvian Observatory, stresses continuous monitoring of Mount Vesuvius, which sits near more than 700,000 residents in the designated red‑zone. She notes that modern instrumentation and clear public communication enable early warnings and coordinated evacuations with the army, warning against complacency that can arise when the volcano appears dormant.

Separately, seismologist Lucia Margheriti explains a deep, magnitude‑6.1 earthquake that struck the Tyrrhenian Sea at a depth of about 250 km. Although the tremor was felt across Calabria, Sicily, Basilicata, Puglia and Campania, its depth reduced ground motion, resulting in little damage. She highlights that deep subduction‑zone quakes are felt over wide areas but pose lower risk than shallow, surface‑level shocks that normally cause the most destruction.