The five hours that could have saved Pompeii's victims who were turned to glass

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The five hours that could have saved Pompeii's victims who were turned to glass

Daily Mail
By JONATHAN CHADWICK
23 January 2025

The eruption of Italy's Mount Vesuvius in AD 79 was one of the most deadly volcanic events in history, killing up to 16,000 people.

Now, researchers have revealed a minute-by-minute account of how the devastation unfolded across an agonising 32-hour period.

It all began at about 12pm on the 24th day of August or October AD 79.

The 2,000ft volcano, located in the Gulf of Naples, started spewing a cloud of rocky volcanic fragments and gas into the air, known as the 'eruption column'.

From 2pm, chunks of pumice – a porous volcanic rock formed when a gas-rich froth of glassy lava solidifies rapidly – measuring up to nine feet thick rained down.

This fiery shower would have crushed buildings and residents in Pompeii, Herculaneum and other nearby settlements – but some would have survived at this point by taking shelter.

However, five hours later, at 7.06pm, the devastation really ramped up when the volcano launched the first 'pyroclastic currents' – the deadly hot and fast-moving flows of gas and volcanic particles.

These scalding-hot currents vaporised inhabitants and even turned human tissue into glass in a process known as vitrification.

(more)
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-14316549/Pompeii-minute-Mount-Vesuvius-eruption.html

[berdie]

In the 70's there was a traveling exhibit that contained artifacts and remains of Pompeii. It was fascinating and horrific.

Probably one of the most interesting exhibits I've ever seen...aside from the Titanic exhibit.

Thanks for posting this article.

[Smokin Joe]

Interesting stuff.
More recently:

1902 St Pierre, Martinique, Mt. Pelee (also, 1905, 1929) Three survivors of some 30,000 people in town, all badly burned.

1968, Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica

1968 Mayon Volcano, Luzon Philippines

All were Nuées Ardentes type eruptions, with disastrous results for any caught in the high speed 400+ MPH, high temperature (1000+ degrees C-- 1800+ F) pyroclastic flows.