Schools closed in Naples as Italian city hit by earthquake

A 4.4 magnitude earthquake has hit the city of Naples in southern Italy.

Seismologists said the tremor struck overnight on Thursday and was felt in several parts of the Campania region.

A number of schools in the surrounding area have been closed so that experts can carry out building safety checks.

Naples sits on the Campi Flegrei, also known as the Phlegraean Fields, a volcanic basin that makes the area prone to quakes.

The volcanic basin, which is believed to have been created after an eruption tens of thousands of years ago, is home to more than 800,000 people.

What's the latest from Naples?

Experts say the tremor struck at 01:25 local time (00:25 UK time) on Thursday at a shallow depth of two miles, on the coast between Pozzuoli and Bagnoli.

The quake was felt across Naples and power supplies were disrupted in some parts of the city.

A number of minor aftershocks were also felt in the region.

Many people in and around Naples spent the night on the streets and in their cars after the quake shook buildings and brought rubble crashing down.

Local schools have also been closed on Thursday so that experts can carry out safety checks.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was constantly monitoring the situation and was in close contact with her colleagues, according to government officials.