Whoa... massive earthquake hits Italy

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/eu_italy_earthquake

That's just awful. So many casualties.

How close was this to Vesuvius, out of curiosity?

Sad 🙁

So sad 🙁

My thoughts and prayers go out to all affected by this.I hope that all of our Italian members are safe and sound!

I just heard about this on the radio.

🙁 It just doesn't seem fair ...

I don't know about unfair. Mt. Vesuvius has erupted many times over the course of human history. Each time, it destroys entire towns, because people continue to build homes around it. You cannot simply will away a volcanic eruption (else, I'm pretty sure, they'd have done that before).

Now, scientists are saying... given the level at which pressure is increasing in the mountain... it is going to erupt again, soon, and with previously unmatched violence (hence why I asked whether or not the quake was close to the mountain). Now, there are millions of people living around the volcano... that's going to be a terrible, horrible death toll when the mountain finally blows its top.

If you choose to live in the vicinity of a major fault line, or close to an active volcano, or behind man-made barriers against a sea level that's higher than your house, you must accept the reality that the Earth is more stubborn than you are... also a lot bigger... and significantly more enduring, and the planet isn't going to adhere to human moral standards which tell us that leaving the front door open and unlocked is not an invitation to walk in and shake the place up.

I was listening to the radio earlier today and they were interviewing some of the Italian fire brigade. They've now got the delightful job of searching the rubble for survivors.

Not good.

that realy sucks and is very sad to hear i always hate to hear about bad stuff happening to people

I work with two people, Francesca and Francesco who are both downunder on a 12 month Visa, and who have family from these areas. Francesco just left to travel around Australia, but now may have to go home to find family.

Sucks.

-Xionking