Still Dangerous Today

Vesuvius hasn't gone anywhere. It last erupted in 1944, and volcanologists rank it among the most dangerous volcanoes on Earth. The reason is people: roughly 3 million now live in the danger zone around it — the most densely populated volcanic region in the world.

• The Italian government keeps an evacuation plan for about 600,000 residents in the immediate red zone
• A relocation program has offered families around €30,000 to move away
• Scientists expect a major eruption could come within our lifetimes

The city the volcano once froze in ash is now ringed by the very crowds a future eruption would threaten.