An earthquake has rocked the central part of Italy during the afternoon hours of Monday, causing people to pour into the streets and leaving homes shaking.

The 4.6 magnitude tremor was the most violent one ever recorded in the country’s 40 years, as per the Italian news agency ANSA.

The quake is believed to have struck at 12:47 pm local time at a depth of about three miles.

It’s believed that the huge earthquake is coming as part of a series of quakes. It was followed up by nearly three others of lower magnitudes.

Local media outlets shared how the mayor of the nearby town of Pozzuoli mentioned that were were no real incidents of damage to his area.

He shared how the quake was certainly strong, and they’re not monitoring the situation hour after hour. Other volunteers are already out and about in the town, checking the situation closely.

Trains in the region have now been suspended out of precaution, and the Naples subway station has also stopped.

The quake did not surprise any geologists working there, provided the region had faced an earthquake a few weeks ago, and therefore similar activity was expected.