简介:TheeruptionofVesuviusof79ADcausedextensivedestructionsallovertheCampanianarea,engulfingthecitiesofPompeii,Herculaneum,OplontiandStabiae.Theeruptionfollowedalongquiescenceperiodandtheinhabitantsoftheareaweresurprisedbythevolcanicevents.Thefirstpartoftheeruptionwascharacterizedbyawidespreaddispersalofpumicesfromahigherup-tivecolumn.Thesecondpartoftheeruption,character-izedbypyroclasticflowsemplacement,causedthemajordamageswithextensivelifelossesinmostofthetownssurroundingthevolcano.InPompeii,themajorcasual-tiesduringthefirstphaseresultedfromroofcollapses;duringthesecondphase,peoplewerekilledeitherbyphysicaltraumaduetothekineticenergyofthefloworbysuffucationbecauseoftheash-richatmosphere.