New homes by volcanoes

This is what I read in A very short history of the world: In explaining such a persistent outward movement of peoples it is tempting to offer simple explanations. Perhaps they were reacting to overpopulation, perhaps they were occasionally driven to seek new homes by volcanoes, earthquakes, typhoons or other natural disasters.

What is funny about that excerpt is that the author placed by volcanoes, earthquakes, typhoons or other natural disasters too close to new homes that it might give you the idea that people wanted to be near those phenomena. That is a so-called misplaced modifier. A less ambiguous version would have the agent of the passive verb (by volcanoes...) right after the term it modifies (occasionally driven).