Red hot lava looms ominously over a lodge on Etna's slopes
Lava spreads onto one of the nearby roads cutting transport links
Etna is on one hand a blessing, but on the other an unpredictable, fiery hazard to those who reside nearby. Every time Etna erupts it causes devastation to the livelihoods it makes possible, covering large areas of fields and vineyards, numerous isolated buildings and several springs on the mountainside.
Not only that but it severs power lines, roads (see above), the surrounding railway and also the cable-car link going up to its summit.
The first effects mentioned have predominantly agricultural impacts with the dependence on the mountain for fertile land. This goes onto affecting the local area's economy both with little or no production of goods for sale and potential job losses, eventually having a direct impact on the local people through higher prices and redundancies. Of course more direct is the threat to buildings where it can become necessary for evacuation, rebuilding and reimbursement, where the trauma felt by those affected is no doubt great.
The cutting of power lines, road and rail links, restricts people's movement and hampers any necessary rescue effort, while removing modern conveniences through lack of electricity and costing much in repair.
To sum up there is great human consequence with significant trauma and hassle; economic impacts with the loss of crops and through the cost of repair.
One other consequence is the international coverage and monitoring, not perhaps such a bad thing though as with the tourism described under benefits.
