A fierce fire broke out in Naples early Tuesday morning, engulfing the historic Sannazaro Theatre and an adjacent residential building. The blaze, noticed around 6:00 AM, led to the spectacular collapse of the dome over the auditorium. Rescue services evacuated residents, and several people were hospitalized with symptoms of smoke inhalation. The cause of the incident is being investigated, with a possible electrical short circuit being mentioned.

Collapse of the theatre dome

Due to an intense fire, the dome of the historic Teatro Sannazaro in Naples completely collapsed.

Injured persons

Several residents of neighbouring buildings suffered smoke inhalation and were taken to local hospitals for examination.

Probable cause

Investigators are preliminarily examining the hypothesis of an electrical short circuit as the direct cause of the fire outbreak in the Chiaia district.

On Tuesday, February 17, 2026, dramatic events unfolded in the very heart of Naples' Chiaia district. Around 6:00 AM, fire began to consume the historic building on via Chiaia, home to the famous Teatro Sannazaro. Flames quickly spread to the upper parts of the structure, causing the collapse of the dome towering over the auditorium. Numerous fire brigade units intervened on site, battling the blaze for several hours, trying to prevent the complete destruction of the structure and the spread of fire to the dense urban fabric. The rescue operation was hampered by the theatre's location in the narrow streets of the historic centre. Thick, acrid smoke forced residents of nearby tenement houses to evacuate or barricade themselves in their homes. According to reports from the ANSA agency, several people suffered carbon monoxide poisoning and required hospitalization. The situation was brought under control around 8:00 AM, but the material damage is enormous. Experts from the Vigili del Fuoco began immediate inspections to assess the stability of the structure. The first hypotheses from investigators suggest that the cause of the disaster may have been an electrical short circuit in one of the rooms adjacent to the stage. The Sannazaro Theatre, built in the 19th century on the site of a former monastery, survived many historical crises and was a key point on Naples' cultural map, playing a significant role in popularizing traditional Neapolitan comedy. Residents of the Chiaia district described the morning as scenes from a nightmare, pointing to a huge column of smoke visible from many kilometres away. „We've been on our feet since five in the morning, the smoke was so thick you couldn't breathe even through handkerchiefs.” — Resident of via Chiaia City authorities promised full support for the institution, emphasizing the historical significance of the building called the 'Bomboniera via Chiaia'. 1874 — year the historic Sannazaro Theatre opened Timeline of the fire in Naples: February 17, 06:00 — Fire outbreak; February 17, 07:15 — Structure collapse; February 17, 08:00 — Fire contained; February 17, 09:30 — Rescue operation

Mentioned People

  • Enrico Pennella — Former president of the provincial council of Naples, who shared photos of the fire on social media.