ROME, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- Italy's Civil Protection Department said in a statement on Saturday that the earthquake that struck near Naples in southern Italy on the evening of July 31 has injured 26 people.
According to local newspaper Corriere della Sera, a magnitude-4.7 earthquake struck the Campi Flegrei volcanic area near Naples at 7:46 p.m. local time on July 31, marking the strongest quake that has hit the area in 40 years. Seismic activity continued through the early hours of Aug. 1, developing into an earthquake swarm with more than 170 tremors recorded.
The Department said the earthquake caused the collapse of several unoccupied buildings and damaged numerous other structures. About 300 people have been forced to evacuate their homes.
Firefighters and technical personnel are continuing structural safety inspections of buildings, and authorities have not ruled out the possibility that the number of evacuees could increase. Residents have been urged to report any suspected damage to their homes promptly, according to the statement. ■