Growth of only one inch a month in the crust of a volcano is easily measured and is cause for concern. And like a balloon, when overinflated, they explode. When that happens, the consequences are awful. It's a big cloud of hot, broken rocks coming right at you. That's very destructive.
Nothing can survive that.
These floods can extend a mile or more in width and roll down stream beds at 30 mph. Though not as deadly, lava flows can destroy vast reaches of property. Capable of reaching temperatures of 2,000 degrees or more, these glowing red flows of liquid rock move slowly but incessantly across the landscape. Smaller flows can be diverted or dammed, but larger ones defy such measures. Landslides can destroy mountainsides and suddenly unleash a volcano's fury.