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The strongest of the 34 quakes over 24 hours woke up residents in Pozzuoli shortly before 5.30 this morning. The 2.5 magnitude shock was also felt in Fuorigrotta, Pianura, Quarto and Bagnoli. Francesca Bianco, director of the Vesuvius Observatory, explained there is a yellow alert in place for the mega-volcano in Naples.

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Ms Bianco said: "These are events that fall within the current yellow alert.

“Everything is part of the volcano's life and there is absolutely nothing to be alarmed about.

“The maximum magnitude event occurred at 5.26am at a depth of just over one kilometre in the area south of the Astroni.

“The rest of the events were of magnitude close to one degree and, in any case, it is a matter of micro-seismicity.”