A family of fifteen from Ireland has told of their terror after a powerful earthquake struck their holiday villa in southern Italy, leaving them convinced they were about to die. The 4.7-magnitude tremor, which hit the town of Pozzuoli near Naples on Friday evening, sent the group fleeing into the garden as walls split and rubble cascaded around them.
Eimear Murphy, 46, originally from Dublin and now living in Dunboyne, Co Meath, was staying in the villa with her husband David, their three children Jack, 13, and ten-year-old twins Kate and Conor, along with her sister Roisin Purcell, her partner Shane Kendrick, their four children, and her parents Marian and Tom O'Farrell. The party had arrived on Tuesday, July 28, for a week-long holiday in the tranquil coastal town, about 20 minutes from Naples.
Earthquake rocks Campi Flegrei
The earthquake struck at around 7.45pm on Friday, with its epicentre in Pozzuoli, according to reports from the Irish Mirror. It was one of the most powerful tremors to hit the region in four decades, shaking the entire Campi Flegrei volcanic zone. Locals rushed into the streets as buildings trembled, and by Saturday, streets were strewn with rubble and masonry ripped from building fronts. Widespread power outages left several neighbourhoods in darkness, and emergency services reported at least four people injured across Naples, Pozzuoli and surrounding towns.
Eimear recalled being in the shower when the ground began to shake violently. "I felt the ground moving and although the earthquake was only six seconds, it felt much longer," she told the Irish Mirror. Two of the children were inside the villa watching their iPads, while the rest of the family were on the veranda. "I really thought the house was collapsing and I shouted to the boys to get out. My husband was outside shouting at us to get out too."
Panic and fear of collapse
"We all ran out of the villa and stood around in shock in the garden until around 2am," she said. "There was pure panic and I really thought the villa was going to collapse on us and I thought we were going to die. It's the first time any of us experienced an earthquake and it's traumatising."
Eimear sustained cuts and gashes on her arms during the quake, while her daughter was struck on the knee by a falling brick. Despite the family avoiding serious harm, the villa itself suffered considerable damage, with cracks appearing in the walls and stairs. "The walls are all cracked, the stairs are cracked, we cleaned up the debris but our clothes are destroyed with dust," Eimear said. "We are afraid the whole building is going to fall down."
Night of terror and aftershocks
The family had no choice but to spend the night in the damaged villa as aftershocks continued, making sleep nearly impossible. "We had to sleep in the villa last night but none of us really slept. The kids are upset and didn't sleep a wink and we are all traumatised by it," she explained. Despite the ongoing tremors, Eimear expressed gratitude that everyone remained safe. "Today there are aftershocks and the ground is still shaking but we are all safe and that's the main thing."
The family is now awaiting confirmation about whether they can stay in the villa, after the owner organised for a structural engineer to assess the property. They are also trying to secure earlier flights home but have found themselves in limbo as local services remain disrupted. "We can't get flights out of here and all the shops and supermarkets are closed and the ports are closed too," Eimear said.
Living on crisps and bread rolls
With no access to food supplies, the family has been surviving on snacks they brought from Ireland. "We are living off Tayto crisps which we brought with us from home and bread rolls and water for now," she said. The atmosphere in Pozzuoli remains tense, with locals anxious about what might happen next. "The town is very eerie today, everyone is freaked out and we are all apprehensive and just want to be home. There's a lot of panic around the town today, police cars are flying around the place with sirens on."
Eimear revealed that the family are doing their best to remain composed for the sake of the children while awaiting further guidance. "We are all trying to stay calm for the sake of the kids but we just want to get out as we are nervous," she said. Describing the experience as "a holiday that turned to hell", she added: "We just wish we were home now."
