There are hundreds of people here who benefit directly from the tourism revenue, from bus drivers to guides, as well as hotels, restaurants and shops of all kinds.
Volcanic materials ultimately break down into very fertile soil, and Sicily has indeed benefited from the volcano in this way. Nearly three-quarters of the land in Sicily is dedicated to agriculture, with Sicily being a huge producer of citrus, olives, tomatoes, pistachios, grapes, wheat and other goods.
In 1669, a huge eruption occurred with lava flows so extensive that they destroyed 10 villages and ultimately reached all the way to the city of Catania. City walls helped to divert the lava, for the most part, resulting in the lava filling in parts of the sea and expanding the city a bit further. The lava did break through a weak section of the wall and destroyed some buildings, but never reached the city center.
In current times, the people living here are still subject to the volcano’s whims. Flights can be canceled due to volcanic activity that makes it not safe to fly in the vicinity. The land under our feet is precariously balanced on fragile tectonic plates, causing relatively frequent earthquakes. Those who work on the volcano, giving tours or driving buses, can work only when the volcano is calm enough to visit safely, so people can lose financial opportunities during periods of volcanic activity.
During the volcano’s frequent eruptions, it is not unusual for large particles of volcanic ash to rain on the nearby villages, even reaching all the way to Catania.
