Locals get assurances as Stromboli continues to spit lava

[Dover]

Locals get assurances as Stromboli continues to spit lava

ROME (AFP) - Locals on the island of Stromboli received assurances Sunday from Italy's top safety official that they were not in great danger, as the volcano they live on continued to spit lava albeit at a reduced rate.

Guido Bertolaso, head of Italy's disaster and emergency services, assured inhabitants and tourists it was possible to "live with a risk which is under control."

Lava emissions continued overnight Saturday, "but at a reduced rate," emergency services said in a routine bulletin.

Stromboli north of Sicily, one of Europe's most active volcanoes, churned into activity last Tuesday, prompting a state of emergency on the tiny, windswept Aeolian island with its 400 inhabitants.

A dozen families whose dwellings are situated less than 10 metres (30 feet) above sea level had to be temporarily evacuated, but returned to their homes late Saturday.

"The situation is changing but remains under control," said Bertolaso, who went to Stromboli personally to inspect the situation. "We're working to demonstrate that people can live in a reasonable way with a risk which is under control in such areas under special surveillance."

...cont'd

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070304/sc_afp/italyvolcano_070304145154;_ylt=AnYPoAscYS4eaSRx8ZvHZJvMWM0F

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I'll bet they said the same thing about Vesuvius in 79 A.D.

[truthisfreedom]

1. Nobody likes lava.

It's so melty.

[Dover]

3. lol!......n/t

[Kutjara]

2. "a risk which is under control"

Since when has anyone ever been able to control a volcano? Watching to see when something is going to blow up is not the same thing as controling the explosion.

Basically, the Italian authorities are saying, "We've got this under control until we haven't. Then you can kiss your ass goodbye. Ciao."

[Dover]

4. It's all about maintaining their tourism, as the very next line states:

The official noted that Stromboli would receive many visitors at Easter. "We want to offer everybody the possibility to come and see its natural beauties in complete safety," ANSA news agency quoted him as saying.

[Kutjara]

5. Doesn't this sound exactly like a bad 70s disaster flick?

The boneheaded mayor/governor/PR flack assures everyone that things are perfectly safe, so they can protect their financial interests, just before the avalanche/earthquake/landslide sweeps everyone away.

We never learn.

[Dover]

6. Lol....a good analogy. And just as predictable as those formula movies too!

Of course, with Mother Nature as the producer/director, there are always some unpredictable plot twists and turns.

And if you've ever witnessed Italian's response to a disaster, it's often difficult to distinguish comedy from tragedy. But the drama is always high.

[Odin2005]

8. Where do you think the inspiration for those plots come from?

It comes from crap like this.

[Ian David]

7. Is Stromboli also spitting pepperoni and mozzarella? n/t

[On the Road]

9. Stromboli Continues to Spit Lava...

are they sure it's not tomato gravy?

[Forkboy]

10. Mmmmmmmmmm.......stromboli.

[Akoto]

11. Lava filling? That's one hot stromboli.

:o :evilgrin:

[ThoughtCriminal]

12. Asked to comment

Mount Stromboli declined to provide assurances.