A 4.2 magnitude earthquake struck the Campi Flegrei area west of Naples, Italy, early Wednesday, causing panic among residents but without leading to injuries or damages, according to the Civil Protection Agency.

Campi Flegrei is a vast caldera-shaped volcano and not conical. Although it is not as well-known as the adjacent Vesuvius volcano, its activity has increased recently, raising concerns among locals.

The earthquake was recorded at 3:35 AM (local time) at a depth of about 3 kilometers, and it was felt by residents across Naples.

Giuseppe Gerardo Della Ragione, the mayor of the coastal town of Bacoli on the outskirts of the city in southern Italy, stated that the earthquake was among the strongest of several tremors. It lasted for a longer duration, and he added: “We live on a volcanic crater.”

Della Ragione urged residents in a message on social media: “We must learn to adapt to this phase. Stay calm.”

Half a million people live in Campi Flegrei, which last erupted lava, ash, and rocks in 1538. It is believed that the volcano's eruption 30,000 years ago contributed to the extinction of Neanderthals.

However, the Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology stated earlier this month that it believes the increased volcanic activity may be due to gas bubbling rather than magma, which makes the likelihood of an eruption relatively low.