The Petronio Institute in Agnano was evacuated on April 15 after technicians detected dangerous levels of carbon dioxide and extreme heat in its ground floor classrooms.
Located directly on the slope of the Solfatara crater within the Phlegraean Fields volcanic complex near Naples, the school sits in a former sanatorium built in the Neo-Renaissance style. Measurements showed CO₂ concentrations far above safe thresholds, prompting immediate action by local authorities.
Recent seismic activity triggered the gas leak
The evacuation followed a series of earthquakes in the caldera, including a magnitude 3.4 tremor on April 8, which experts believe fractured underground channels and allowed trapped volcanic gases to rise. Similar gas emissions were observed after the 2021 seismic swarm that preceded heightened monitoring across the region.
Authorities coordinated a multi-agency safety assessment
<!– /wp:paragraph> wp:paragraph>Prefect Michele di Bari convened Naples’ emergency response center to evaluate the risk, leading to a joint inspection by firefighters’ ABC defense units, the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, and municipal technicians. The school remains closed while experts determine whether the gas poses a continuing threat to students and staff.
/wp:paragraph> wp:heading>Residents report ongoing ground deformation and steam vents
/wp:paragraph> wp:paragraph>For months, locals in Agnano have witnessed steam rising not only from the Solfatara crater’s center but also from storm drains and hillsides, with one road repeatedly deforming due to subsurface heat. These surface changes align with the underground pressure shifts detected by monitoring stations across the caldera.
/wp:paragraph> wp:heading>The Phlegraean Fields remain under elevated alert
/wp:paragraph> wp:paragraph>Although no eruption is imminent, the area has experienced unrest since 2021, with recurring earthquake swarms and ground uplift signaling magma movement beneath the densely populated zone. A major eruption here 39,000 years ago dispersed ash across Europe and may have contributed to Neanderthal population decline.
Why was the Petronio Institute specifically evacuated?
/wp:heading> wp:paragraph>It sits directly on the Solfatara crater’s slope where recent earthquakes likely opened pathways for volcanic gases, leading to hazardous CO₂ buildup in its lower floors.
/wp:paragraph> wp:heading>Is there a risk of eruption in the near future?
/wp:heading> wp:paragraph>Scientists say an eruption is not expected imminently, but the persistent seismic activity and gas emissions indicate the system remains active and requires continuous monitoring.
The evacuation followed a series of earthquakes in the caldera, including a magnitude 3.4 tremor on April 8, which experts believe fractured underground channels and allowed trapped volcanic gases to rise. Similar gas emissions were observed after the 2021 seismic swarm that preceded heightened monitoring across the region.
Authorities coordinated a multi-agency safety assessment
<!– /wp:paragraph> wp:paragraph>Prefect Michele di Bari convened Naples’ emergency response center to evaluate the risk, leading to a joint inspection by firefighters’ ABC defense units, the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, and municipal technicians. The school remains closed while experts determine whether the gas poses a continuing threat to students and staff.
/wp:paragraph> wp:heading>Residents report ongoing ground deformation and steam vents
/wp:paragraph> wp:paragraph>For months, locals in Agnano have witnessed steam rising not only from the Solfatara crater’s center but also from storm drains and hillsides, with one road repeatedly deforming due to subsurface heat. These surface changes align with the underground pressure shifts detected by monitoring stations across the caldera.
/wp:paragraph> wp:heading>The Phlegraean Fields remain under elevated alert
/wp:paragraph> wp:paragraph>Although no eruption is imminent, the area has experienced unrest since 2021, with recurring earthquake swarms and ground uplift signaling magma movement beneath the densely populated zone. A major eruption here 39,000 years ago dispersed ash across Europe and may have contributed to Neanderthal population decline.
/wp:paragraph> wp:heading>Why was the Petronio Institute specifically evacuated?
/wp:heading> wp:paragraph>It sits directly on the Solfatara crater’s slope where recent earthquakes likely opened pathways for volcanic gases, leading to hazardous CO₂ buildup in its lower floors.
/wp:paragraph> wp:heading>Is there a risk of eruption in the near future?
/wp:heading> wp:paragraph>Scientists say an eruption is not expected imminently, but the persistent seismic activity and gas emissions indicate the system remains active and requires continuous monitoring.
/wp:paragraph> /wp:paragraph –>
