UK tourists in Italy warned with half a million in 'danger zone'

UK tourists in Italy have been issued a warning with Mount Vesuvius looking like it could "erupt soon". UK tourists have been warned half a million near Mt Vesuvius may be in the "danger zone" amid resurgent activity in Naples.

The last time the iconic mountain erupted was in 1944, shortly before the end of World War II, when 26 Italians were killed and almost 12,000 were displaced. Underworld, an educational channel, has warned: "Mount Vesuvius could erupt again — and soon."

Since 1631, Vesuvius has been producing something known as mafic magma. This is a type of magma that contains lower amounts of silica and is generally less viscous and less gas-rich than silicic magma - and experts say it's a good thing.

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Olivier Bachmann, professor at ETH Zurich, told Futurity during an interview previously: "That’s why we think it’s more likely that a large, explosive eruption of Vesuvius would occur only after a quiescent period lasting for centuries."

Some three million Italians call Naples home and are close enough to be seriously affected by an eruption. Half a million people live even closer than the rest in what is known as the "danger zone", making it the most densely populated volcanic reign in the entire world.

The Italian government is worried about it and is actively trying to move people away from the dome's blast zone. But President De Luca has said that the people of Naples are not in danger, yet. He added: “We have no particular problems right now, but it is our duty to be prepared. Either you can pretend not to see challenges, or you can face them head on – even the most difficult.

“We should take advantage of the fact that Vesuvius is currently dormant, that it’s giving no sign of movement, in order to prepare ourselves to cope with the emergency, should it wake up.”