Mount Vesuvius eruption destroys Pompeii and Herculaneum

Historical records and scientific studies mark the anniversary of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, which occurred on August 24, 79 AD. The eruption devastated several Roman cities, including Pompeii, Herculaneum, Stabiae, and Oplontis, burying them under ash, lapilli, and mudflows.

Contemporary accounts from Pliny the Younger describe the disaster and the death of his uncle, Pliny the Elder, who died while attempting a naval rescue mission at Stabiae. While the total death toll remains unknown, it is estimated that approximately 2,000 people died in Pompeii and Herculaneum within the first 24 hours due to extreme heat, volcanic rock, or toxic gases.

A 2018 study published in the journal PLOS One by researchers from Federico II University Hospital in Naples suggests that the extreme heat from the explosion may have caused victims' blood to boil, leading to fatal cranial explosions in some cases.