A recent study presents evidence that some local people moved back to Pompeii quickly after the 79AD eruption of Mt Vesuvius that famously entombed the Roman city under violent pyroclastic flows. These findings generated considerable media coverage, with many questioning why people would return to the destroyed area. However, this is not the exception but rather the rule for anyone familiar with so-called ‘urban’ volcanic eruptions, and indeed, a portion of La Palma’s population is keen to remain in the Aridane valley, surrounded by the lava flows that took their homes away. So why would people return to hazardous areas? As it turns out, there are more sensible, practical, and emotional reasons than you may think.
