When the Earth Swallowed a City
A Plinian Eruption
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In early August, 79 A.D., small earthquakes shook the ground. The residents of Pompeii were used to these, however, and took little notice. Then, on August 24th, the mountain exploded. Fire and smoke erupted from the mouth of the volcano, and a great cloud of ash and smoke rose in Plinian fashion. It began to rain ash upon the city, harmless and light on its own, but it quickly built up as it fell at a rate of 6 inches an hour. At midday the mountain exploded again, with an explosion worse than the first, involving heavy stones instead of ashes. The sun was blotted out by 1 p.m, and citizens of Pompeii began clearing ash from their roofs to avoid cave-ins. Everyone who had stayed in the city huddled with others, under stairs and close to wall to protect themselves. At 11p.m, the cloud of ash hanging over the city collapsed under its own weight, sending superheated gasses down towards the town. This ash choked everyone remaining in Pompeii, burning them to death and causing their muscles to contort. The ash fell for a while after this, covering the city completely in ash and hiding it for centuries.
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