Residents of Naples and its surrounding areas abandoned their homes and camped out in parks and cars after a 4.4 magnitude earthquake struck near the Italian city early Thursday morning, rattling nerves after weeks of intense seismic activity.

A 4.4 magnitude earthquake struck the Naples Italy area at 1:25 a.m. local time Thursday, causing some building and car damage but no reported deaths. The quake hit in Campi Flegrei volcano basin.

Scale of damage revealed after 4.4-magnitude tremor hit Italian city - Eleven people were taken to hospital including one who had part of ceiling collapse on them

According to Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, the earthquake took place at 1:25 am with its epicenter near the coastal town of Pozzuoli, located west of Naples.

An earthquake of magnitude 4.4 hit near the southern Italian city of Naples early on Thursday, damaging buildings and causing locals to flee into the streets. The earthquake occurred at 1:25 a.m. (0025 GMT) with its epicentre near the coastal town of Pozzuoli,

Many people in and around the Italian city spend the night on the streets and in their cars, fearing aftershocks.

The southern Italian city of Naples was struck by a 4.4-magnitude quake early Thursday that caused only minor damage and sent 11 people to hospital, officials said.