Are you prepared? Volcanic risk at Vesuvius

Vesuvius is an active volcano

Vesuvius lies east of Naples in a densely populated area; for this reason, it is considered one of the highest-risk volcanoes in the world. It comprises the remains of the older Mount Somma, and a more recent volcanic edifice called Gran Cono. Activity and rest periods have alternated throughout the volcano's eruptive history. The rest periods were interrupted by high-energy explosive eruptions, followed by frequent effusive or explosive eruptions of medium and low energy.

Pliny the Younger described the most famous eruption in 79 AD that destroyed Pompeii, Ercolano, and Stabia. The last eruption, on the other hand, was in 1944 and was marked by low-energy effusive and explosive activity. The event killed 21 people and partially destroyed the towns of San Sebastiano al Vesuvio and Massa di Somma.

Since then, the volcano has been quiescent, meaning in a rest period, and is characterized by fumarolic activity inside the crater and low seismicity. Currently, no phenomena are suggesting a resumption of eruptive activity soon.

What can happen in case of eruption?

The most likely type of eruption of the Vesuvius is an explosive eruption of medium-low energy. However, as a safety measure, the National Civil Protection Planning refers to a medium energy eruption as a scenario, which includes:    

• the formation of an eruptive column made of gas, burning lava clots, and several kilometres high ashes.
• the fall of volcanic material, both large (like volcano bombs and blocks) in the area closest to the eruptive vent and smaller particles (like ashes and lapilli) that are blown by the wind, can settle even several tens of kilometres away.
• the flow of pyroclastic flows, which are avalanches of gas, ash, and volcanic fragments at elevated temperatures and speed for several kilometres down the slopes of the volcano.    

Seismic activity may occur before the eruption and accompany its different stages, resulting in particularly severe damage to buildings already hit by falling ash and lapilli.

Can an eruption at Vesuvius be predicted?

On Vesuvius, a volcanic monitoring system of geophysical and geochemical parameters (seismicity, ground deformation, gas composition, and temperature, etc.) whose changes may be forerunners of an eruption, is active.

Monitoring is crucial for defining the state of volcanic activity and the related warning level and implementing measures outlined in the Civil Protection Plan. Vesuvius monitoring data are reported by the Ingv - Vesuvius Observatory to the Department of Civil Protection and published on the website of the Vesuvius Observatory.  

How does the warning work?

The warning system has specific "alert levels" that indicate the state of the volcano based on monitoring parameters and possible ongoing phenomena. The green alert level represents ordinary volcanic activity, while the yellow, orange, and red alert levels correspond to increasing stages of volcanic instability leading to a possible eruption.

The length of each alert level can be highly variable.

The Department of Civil Protection declares alert levels in liaison with the Civil Protection of the Campania Region. Any variation in alert level is assessed according to the information provided by INGV's Vesuvius Observatory upon advice from the National Commission for the Forecasting and Prevention of Major Risks.

The following actions to be taken by the National Civil Protection Service are set out in the operational phases (attention, pre-alarm, and alarm) foreseen in civil protection planning. The Prime Minister declares the pre-alarm and alarm phases.  

Currently, the alert level for Vesuvius is basic (i.e. green). 

What are the risk zones?

The red zone covers the area exposed to the possible invasion of pyroclastic flows, which, due to their elevated temperatures and speed, are the most dangerous phenomenon for people, and an area subject to elevated risk of collapse of building roofs due to the accumulation of pyroclastic deposits, such as volcanic ash and lapilli.

The red zone includes 25 municipalities in the provinces of Naples and Salerno: Boscoreale, Boscotrecase, Cercola, Ercolano, Massa di Somma, Ottaviano, Pollena Trocchia, Pompeii, Portici, Sant'Anastasia, San Giorgio a Cremano, San Sebastiano al Vesuvio, San Giuseppe Vesuviano, Somma Vesuviana, Terzigno, Torre Annunziata, Torre del Greco, Trecase, Palma Campania, Poggiomarino, San Gennaro Vesuviano, and Scafati, and only partially the districts of Barra, Ponticelli and San Giovanni a Teduccio in the municipality of Naples, the municipality of Nola and the enclave of Pomigliano d'Arco in the municipality of Sant'Anastasia.

The yellow zone, outside the red zone, covers the area exposed to the significant fallout of volcanic ash and pyroclastic materials, the accumulation of which could damage some buildings. The yellow zone includes 63 municipalities and three districts of the City of Naples.  

What does the civil protection plan provide?

The only safeguard measure for the red zone is population evacuation before the eruption.
People can decide whether to autonomously find accommodation outside the risk zones or benefit from the accommodation offered by the state in the Region or Autonomous Province twinned with their municipality.

In the yellow zone, the evacuation of people will be considered during the event, depending on the direction of the winds and the extent of the eruption. The Plan for volcanic risk for Vesuvius is national, meaning it has been drafted by the entire National Civil Protection Service starting with the Civil Protection Department, Campania Region, Naples Prefecture, municipalities in the red zone, and twinned Regions and Autonomous Provinces..

How does the evacuation from the red zone occur?

In the pre-alarm phase, people who want to evacuate can do so autonomously, moving to an alternative accommodation (i.e., second home, from relatives or friends, rented house) by getting a financial contribution from the State.

In the alarm phase, people can decide whether to evacuate by means provided by the State or autonomously. In the latter case, the evacuation must be reported to the municipality, and the routes provided in the planning must be followed according to the established schedules.
The population can also decide whether to move to an alternative self-chosen accommodation with a financial contribution from the State or take advantage of the accommodation offered in the twinned Region or Autonomous Province.

Those who decide to evacuate with the means made available by the State must reach the waiting area identified by the Civil Protection Plan of the municipality, either autonomously or with the shuttles organized by their municipality. From there, the transfer to the meeting area outside the red zone will occur with the means made available by the Campania Region. In contrast, the transfer to the twinned Region or Autonomous Province will be guaranteed by the means of transport identified by the planning (train, bus, ship).

The Plans of the individual Regions and Autonomous Provinces outline the relocation and hosting of the population.  

When will the IT-alert message be sent?

The IT-alert public warning system for volcanic risk at Vesuvius is used to give early warning of a potential upcoming eruption with the resulting need to take civil protection actions, including the evacuation of the population living in the red zone, provided for in the plans.

When the operational phase of "alarm" is activated, an IT-alert message is sent to the cell phones of those in the Campania region to inform them of the potential danger. It is, therefore, essential to know what to do right away.

What to know?

•  If you live, work, or stay in the Vesuvius area, find out if your area is in the red or yellow zone.
•  Earthquakes can precede eruptions: remember the indications on proper behaviours that you can read on this page.
•  In case of eruption, the only safeguard for the population living in the red zone is preventive evacuation. Buildings would not provide safe shelter.
•  When the alarm operational phase is triggered, operations to evacuate the population last three days (72 hours).  
•  The Civil Protection Plan of your municipality specifies the timing and methods for evacuation (routes to follow, waiting areas to reach, or any municipal vehicles made available, etc.).  
•  It is not necessarily sure that a volcanic eruption will follow the activation of the operational alarm phase. However, access to the area remains banned until otherwise directed by civil protection authorities.  
•  In case of an eruption, the yellow zone is exposed to the fallout of volcanic lapilli and ash. The evacuation of the population from this area will be assessed during the event based on the winds' direction and the eruption's extent. Excessive ash accumulation could cause roofs to collapse. • •  After the evacuation in the "alarm" phase, it will not be possible to know immediately when you can return to your homes. Please stay updated on the indications provided by civil protection authorities.  
•  Italy has a public warning system, IT-alert, for informing the population directly, which broadcasts useful messages to cell phones in a given geographical area in case of imminent or ongoing serious emergencies or disasters, including an upcoming eruption at Vesuvius.
•  Italy has equipped itself with a public warning system, IT-alert, for direct information to the population, which broadcasts messages to cell phones in a given geographical area in case of imminent or ongoing major emergencies or disasters, including an upcoming eruption at Vesuvius. Remember that the IT-alert system has some limitations. For more information, go to www.it-alert.gov.it/en. 

What to do?

You can better prepare to deal with a possible emergency with simple actions.

•  Verify if the area where you live, work, or stay is in the red or yellow zone.
•  Find out about your municipality's Civil Protection Plan.
•  If you or a family member needs special assistance (people with disabilities, older people), report it to the municipality.
•  Stay informed about the status of volcanic activity through INGV's Vesuvius Observatory website, institutional websites, social media, and hotline numbers.
•  Earthquakes often precede volcanic eruptions. Therefore, verify that your home is safe and take all necessary measures to avoid situations that may pose a danger.  
•  Join volcanic hazard exercises and information meetings organized in your area.  

Knowing the risk and the Civil Protection Plan is a task for all of us.

Share what you know in your family, at school, with friends and colleagues: spreading information about volcanic risk is a collective responsibility to which we all must contribute. 

During this operational phase, volcano monitoring is intensified, and Civil Protection Plans are verified. 

Already in the attention phase, thus well before a potential eruption, volcanic activity can result in dangerous phenomena, such as earthquakes. Therefore, keep in mind behaviours related to seismic risk.

If you live in the red zone 
Ask your municipality about the Civil Protection Plan to learn about evacuation routes and waiting areas. When the authorities give the directions, evaluate whether you will evacuate with your car, or the vehicle provided by the civil protection.

Be sure to notify your municipality if you or a family member has special assistance needs for evacuation and accommodation in alternative housing. Also, consider whether you will relocate to another home owned by you or by relatives or friends outside the red and yellow zones, receiving financial assistance from the State.
Otherwise, you can take advantage of the accommodations offered by the State in the Region or Autonomous Province twinned with your municipality.  

At this operational phase, the most time-consuming and complex operations planned for the red zone begin, including relocation of people in hospitals and penitentiary institutions, displacement of farm animals, and safeguarding major cultural properties. 

If you live in the red zone
If you already want to evacuate in this phase, you can do it with a financial contribution from the State. Please remember to inform your municipality.
If you decide to stay, be prepared to evacuate when the authorities will order so:   

•  Make a list of essentials to bring (documents, medicines, eyeglasses, etc.).
•  Learn about the evacuation routes to be followed.
•  If you plan to use the means provided by civil protection, notify your municipality, and point out any pets' presence to arrange their transport.
•  If you still need to do it, inform your municipality if you or a family member has special needs for assistance.
•  If you or a family member is hospitalized, you will be transferred to another healthcare facility that may not be in the Region twinned with your Municipality.  
•  Remember that during this phase, access to the red zone will be restricted for safety reasons.

If you live in the yellow zone
Ensure you have protective masks, dust glasses, food, water, medicine, flashlight, and ash removal tools. If you or a family member has a respiratory or cardiovascular condition, consult your doctor to know how to protect your/their health.  

In this operational phase, the IT-alert message is sent to alert of a potential upcoming eruption. In the alarm phase, evacuation of the population from the red zone is planned. The maximum estimated time for the evacuation is three days (72 hours). Operations are coordinated by civil protection authorities.  

If you live in the red zone 
Once the evacuation order has been issued, go home, and pack your suitcase. Remember to take essentials (documents, medicines, etc.). Do not waste time securing unnecessary possessions and items. Before you leave home close doors and windows and turn off the electrical, gas, and water systems.
If you decide to leave the area autonomously, follow only the evacuation routes provided in the Plan, according to the established timetables. Make sure your car has sufficient fuel.
If you choose assisted transportation, get to the waiting area assigned to you by the Municipality's Civil Protection Plan, according to the timetable provided. You may bring your pet with you according to the arrangements provided by your municipality.
The red zone exclusion may last for a long time, and access to the area will be controlled by police forces. 

If you live in the yellow zone
Be prepared for possible temporary evacuation as well.   

All people in the red zone have autonomously found accommodation outside the red zone or have been relocated to the twinned Regions or Autonomous Provinces.  

If you live in the yellow zone 
If your area is suffering from heavy volcanic ash fallout, you must temporarily leave your home at the request of civil protection authorities. You will be assigned accommodation within the Campania Region.
Before drinking water from the tap, make sure that municipal ordinances or notices do not ban it; wash well any food that has come in contact with volcanic ashes.
If your area has not been evacuated during volcanic ash fallout, stay indoors with windows closed.
Please wear a protective mask and dust glasses if you must go outside.
It is extremely dangerous to drive on ash-covered roads. Your car can get damaged and impede emergency vehicles. Avoid the use of motorcycles.