Supervolcano 'on verge of eruption'
Could spark mass extinction and nuclear winter
The crust of the Campi Flegrei volcano, near Naples in southern Italy, is becoming weaker and more prone to rupturing, "making an eruption more likely", research recently published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment said.
It could erupt soon, a new study states, and it would be the first time since 1538.
If the volcano erupts, it could launch molten rock and volcanic gases high into the stratosphere.
It could lead to 100ft tsunamis, leading sulfur, and toxic ash to spread causing fears it could destroy crops and wildlife, plunging the Earth into a global winter.
...a recent rise in the number of earthquakes in the area has concerned scientists, with more than 600 recorded in April alone.
Supervolcanoes refer to volcanoes that can produce eruptions of the highest magnitude, reaching an 8 on the Volcano Explosivity Index. During eruptions, they can expel more than 240 cubic miles (1,000 cubic kilometers) of material.
Its biggest eruption ranked as a category 7 - which can be disastrous, according to Live Science.
