This is a drawing of the 1631 eruption of Mt. Vesuvius.
Click on image for full size
Image courtesy of: Dr. Boris Behncke. Artist: Giovan Batista Passaro This account of the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius was modified from the Vesuvio website.
1631 Eruption of Mt. Vesuvius
On 16 December 1631 between 6:00 and 7:00 am an unexpected eruption began. Darkness fell over the entire area around the volcano, and there were continuous earthquakes through the night.
At about 2:00 am on 17 December, a heavy rainfall began which formed a lahar.
At about 11:00 am on the 17th, a large amount of ash, gas and stones shot out of the mouth of the volcano and spilled down on all sides. The swift movement of the material looked like flowing water. The flowing ash sped downward, destroying all plants and buildings in it's path and killing all living beings it's way.
By 6:00 pm on17 December the eruption finally stopped.
When the eruption was over, rescue teams saved thousands of people who had been spared by the flowing ash.
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