Page 39 - Grasp English A2 (Grammar Book)

Tales And Stories 6

Mount Vesuvius

Vesuvius is one of the most active volcanoes in mainland Europe. It is located on Italy’s west
coast, and it overlooks the bay and the city of Naples. The 79 AD eruption is one of the most
well-known ancient eruptions in the world, and it killed more than 16,000 people. It also
destroyed the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum.
On 24 August of 79 AD, the people of Pompeii were going about their business in the usual
way. Suddenly the area around Mount Vesuvius shook with a huge earthquake, and it grew
dark. The mountain’s top split open and the people saw a huge cloud, like an umbrella at
the top of the mountain. Then Vesuvius started to erupt. Stones, ash, and pumice began to
fall on the town. The people of Pompeii started to run out of the town, but more than 16,000
of them did not get far. The town was completely buried.
The Italian government has cleared away the volcanic matter to uncover public buildings
and private houses. Today people can easily see where and how people lived in Pompeii.
The mixture of ash and pumice made, with the rain of centuries, a kind of plaster. It has
preserved amazing details of their rooms, pictures, plates, clothing, and faces. Most of the
victims were trying to escape.

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