“The walls are all cracked, the stairs are cracked, we cleaned up the debris but our clothes are destroyed with dust, We are afraid the whole building is going to fall down.”
An Irish family holidaying in southern Italy have described the terrifying moments they believed they were going to die after a powerful earthquake ripped through the town of Pozzuoli, sending them fleeing from their holiday villa as walls cracked and debris fell around them.
Dubliner Eimear Murphy (46), who now lives in Dunboyne, Co Meath, her husband David, their three children Jack (13) and 10-year-old twins Kate and Conor, had travelled to the Italian town near Naples for a week-long family break with Eimear’s sister Roisin Purcell, her partner Shane Kendrick, their children Molly, Paddy, Hannah and Darragh, and Eimear’s parents Marian and Tom O’Farrell.
The group of 15 arrived on Tuesday, July 28, and had been enjoying a stay in an Airbnb villa with a swimming pool in Pozzuoli, a quiet coastal town around 20 minutes from Naples.
But just days into their trip, the family were caught up in the fear and chaos of an earthquake that struck at around 7.45pm on Friday evening.
The powerful earthquake struck the Naples region, sending residents fleeing into the streets as buildings shook across the Campi Flegrei volcanic zone.
The 4.7‐magnitude tremor, one of the most powerful in the region for four decades, was centred on Pozzuoli.
The moment the earthquake hit was terrifying, with the ground violently shaking and a sense of panic spreading through the community.
On Saturday, the streets were littered with debris and masonry torn from building facades while widespread power cuts plunged several neighbourhoods into darkness.
Emergency services there say at least four people have been injured, with tremors felt across Naples, Pozzuoli and surrounding towns.
Eimear said she was in the shower on Friday evening when at around 7.45pm she suddenly felt the ground begin to move, while two of the children were inside the villa watching their iPads and the rest of the family were outside on the veranda.
“I felt the ground moving and although the earthquake was only six seconds, it felt much longer,” she told the Irish Mirror.
“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. We all ran out of the villa and stood around in shock in the garden until around 2am.”
She said panic immediately took over as they all feared the building would not withstand the shaking.
“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,” she said.
The earthquake also left Eimear with cuts and gashes on her arms, while her daughter was struck on the knee by a falling brick.
Although the family escaped serious injury, the earthquake left damage inside the villa, with cracks appearing in walls and stairs.
Eimear said debris had to be cleared away and their clothes were covered in dust.
“The walls are all cracked, the stairs are cracked, we cleaned up the debris but our clothes are destroyed with dust,” she said. “We are afraid the whole building is going to fall down.”
The family were forced to spend the night back in the villa as aftershocks continued, but sleep was difficult.
“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.”
Eimear said the family are grateful everyone is safe, but the continued tremors and uncertainty have left them desperate to return home.
“Today there are aftershocks and the ground is still shaking but we are all safe and that’s the main thing.”
The family are now waiting to find out if they can remain in the villa after the owner arranged for a structural engineer to inspect the property.
They are also trying to find earlier flights home, but said they have been left 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. We are living off Tayto crisps which we brought with us from home and bread rolls and water for now,” Eimear said.
She described the atmosphere in Pozzuoli as tense, with residents fearful about what could 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 said the family are trying to stay calm for the children while they wait for further instructions.
“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 described the experience as a holiday that quickly became a frightening ordeal. It’s a holiday that turned to hell and we just wish we were home now.”
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