Life in the shadow of Vesuvius

Malcolm Billings visits a city with an uncertain future

BBC Radio 4's Crossing Continents was broadcast on Thursday, 18 March, 2004 at 1100 GMT.

The programme was repeated on Monday, 22 March, 2004 at 2030 GMT.

Scientists admit they do not know when the Mount Vesuvius volcano close to the city of Naples will erupt again nor exactly what will happen when it does.

They hope their instruments will give them as much as two weeks notice of a major eruption, but they are not sure.

The city authorities, meanwhile, are working on a plan to evacuate hundreds of thousands of people from their homes if the worst should happen.

But many believe their plan is flawed and the authorities will struggle to get people away from their homes in time.

Malcolm Billings went to Naples to talk to the scientists, politicians and ordinary people who live in the shadow of the volcano.

Producer: Tony Grant
Presenter: Malcolm Billings
Editor: Hugh Levinson