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Ecuador Declares State of Emergency Over Volcano
An anonymous reader writes: The President of Ecuador declared a state of emergency following growing fears over the increasing activity in the Cotopaxi volcano. Rafael Correa ordered the evacuation of a few hundred people who live near the volcano as a precaution. The first signs of eruption began last Friday when hot ash shot out of the volcano, covering areas up to 30 miles away. The volcano's last major eruptive period occurred in the late 19th century
It isn't stupidity. The land near volcanos is quite fertile so an agrarian society would flourish.
People love living near volcanoes because of how rich the volcanic soil is. And flood deltas have nice flat ground, easily cleared for building.
Looked at Seattle lately? It's like 60 miles or so from Mt. Rainier. A Mount St. Helen's style eruption would devastate the city. It wouldn't do Tacoma much good either.
Don't live near any coast, for fear of Tsunamis.
Don't life in the Midwest, for fear of tornadoes.
Don't live near any fault lines, for fear of earthquakes.
Don't live in hot climates, for fear of droughts and wildfires.
Don't live in norther climates, for fear of blizzards.
Don't live near volcanoes, for fear of eruptions.
Don't live in the jungles, for fear of diseases.
Don't live on a hillside, for fear of mudslides.
Don't live on a river plain, for fear of flooding.
Don't live in Africa, as a lion might eat you.
Don't life in Canada or Alaska, as a bear might eat you.
Don't live in Florida, as an alligator might eat you.
Don't live in Australia, since everything is venomous.
etc, etc...
There are very few places on earth where nature doesn't occasionally try to kill you.
Irony: Agile development has too much intertia to be abandoned now.