The “zombie volcano” is a captivating nickname for the Campi Flegrei caldera, a massive supervolcano located just west of Naples, Italy. The name itself stems from the fact that for many years, this volcano was considered dormant or even extinct. However, in recent years, it has begun to show signs of renewed activity, essentially “coming back from the dead” and prompting a new wave of scientific concern and public attention.
Unlike a typical cone-shaped volcano, Campi Flegrei is a vast, flat caldera, with much of its structure submerged under the sea. Its location is a major point of concern, as it is situated in one of the most densely populated areas of Italy. The potential for a major eruption poses a significant threat to the more than 1.5 million people who live in the surrounding region, including the large city of Naples.
The last known eruption of Campi Flegrei occurred in 1538. Since then, the volcano has been experiencing a phenomenon known as bradyseism, where the ground slowly rises and falls as a result of magma and gas moving beneath the surface. This has led to a recent increase in seismic activity, including tremors and earthquakes, which has caused scientists to raise the volcano’s alert level. While a major eruption is not considered imminent, the signs of reawakening have triggered a close and continuous monitoring effort to assess the potential risks.