Actually if you read the BBC article it is the mud shell of a giant bubble of flammable gas. So what would be "funny" would be to have the think pop under them and engulf them in a huge fireball explosion. Ok, so not funny, but they mention also in the BBC article to 'igniting' one of the gas leaks and then having a heck of a time putting it out again.

If it is methane, they would be better off leaving it lit and burning as the CO2 would be less of a greenhouse gas than the methane, and it would prevent buildup of unburnt gas which increases the fire hazard.

Of course they could build a magical city on it with its own source of power that could develop advanced technologies and then sink into the ocean never to be heard from again :-)