Very Sad But Why Do People Take

[emmie]

such risks.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-50715047

[ummmm]

I said exactly the same thing. But having said that many sports would also become redundant. I'm clumsy so I wouldn't dream of going skiing. I also won't stand near the edge of a cliff.

Did you see that couple who plunged to their death having a bit of a smooch on a balcony?

[jno]

it depends. Climbing volcanoes isn't always risky - I've been to the top of Vesuvius and walked on other ones (including one in NZ whose name I forget, but it wasn't this one).

However, if the warning level had been raised to 4 out of 5, it beats me why a ship would be running excursions there at all. The passengers may well not have known about the risks, they just thought they were going to see a tourist attraction. But those in charge should surely have known of the warning and acted on it.

[emmie]

the Volcanologists have said that this was active, makes no sense whatsoever to take tours up there.
looks like many dead, 5 they know of, but a large group haven't been seen, so are presumed dead.

I am sorry for the victims and their families.

[gingejbee]

I'm sure that they didn't see it as that much of a risk at the time....yes, an active volcano but what's the chance of it erupting while we're down there?....I can understand the thinking.

[Mamyalynne]

People have the mindset that accidents/incidents like that happen to others, not them.

Very sad.

[emmie]

i can't understand the thinking at all.

[rowanwitch]

As a bit of an earth science fan, I would have been very tempted even with the raised risk. It's sad because it's mostly people having a holiday who are dead. Many of the world's volcanoes are tourist attractions and it is so easy to understand why.

[jno]

just because a volcano is active doesn't mean it's going to erupt, just that it could possibly do so, whereas an extinct one can't. I went some way up Etna a few years ago: there was hot steam issuing from a lot of rocks and cracks in the ground, but that was basically showing that it wouldn't erupt because it was letting off steam and reducing pressure.

But you have to listen when vulcanologists tell you there's been heightened activity pointing to eruption taking place soon.

[Atheist]

Rowan; what is Earth science?

[retrocop]

If the dead are not kiwis then I can only assume the deceased may have flown from afar to visit that Island. Non risk there of course. I shudder to think how I,as a responsible parent flew my young lads to Lanzagrotty and dragged them up a sheer camel path to see a bunch of straw combust in a crevice on top of an active Volcano.’it ‘ happens.

[rowanwitch]

How the world works, plate tectonics, volcanology, seismology and geology. Throw in a touch of meteorology and sea currents it's all the stuff they fill the discovery channel with.

[Atheist]

Thanks, Rowan.

[Rockrose]

There was no risk the volcano gave no indication that it was going to erupt apparently

[emmie]

that is not what the scientist who was on the news said, he said that it was active... though how active we now see the results.

[rowanwitch]

It isn't monitored in the same way as the ones near towns and cities. Harmonic monitoring and gas sampling might have given a better warning

[emmie]

the links have the information.

[jno]

retro, they were passengers on a cruise ship. They might have come from anywhere but it seems a lot were Australians.

[emmie]

One Brit, and several Kiwis, also Japanese tourists i think.. horrible

[emmie]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-50710998

[ludwig]

The full extent of the risk may not have been made clear to the people taking part. I believe criminal proceedings are being looked into.