Volcanoes spew hot, dangerous gases, ash, lava and rock when they erupt, and can have devastating consequences. The Cumbre Vieja volcano on La Palma started erupting on September 19, more than a month ago, and has forced thousands of people to evacuate. The eruption, which is still showing no signs of stopping, has destroyed some 2,000 homes. Canary Island officials last week admitted that there is no end in sight, after 40 tremors struck the island in one day.
However, La Palma is of course not the only part of the world to experience the terrifying power of volcanos.
Archaeologists in the Bay of Naples made an incredible discovery, finding the remains of more than 300 people trying to flee the catastrophic Mount Vesuvius eruption of 79 AD, which famously covered the city of Pompeii.
On what was once the beach of the ancient Roman city of Herculaneum, a team of archaeologists found the remains of more than 300 inhabitants, who had been killed by a surge of boiling volcanic material.
Smithsonian Channel documentary ‘Mummies Alive: Hero of Herculaneum’ looks into the artefacts from the eruption nearly 2,000 years ago.
Pompeii and Herculaneum are the best known cities obliterated by the eruption, which was one of the deadliest in European history.
The remains of more than 1,500 people have been found so far, although the total death toll remains unknown.
Around 30,000 people are believed to have died in total, with bodies still being discovered to this day.
The documentary’s narrator said: “Inside these boathouses was a scene of horror.”
Pier Paolo Petrone from the Museum of Anthropology in Naples said: “Here on the ancient beach of Herculaneum, you can see the tragedy that occurred in the 79 AD eruption here in Naples.”
Pompeii, which attracts 2.5 million visitors each year, was buried under four to six metres of volcanic ash and pumice in the eruption.
Herculaneum, much closer to the crater, was buried under a staggering 23 metres of material from the pyroclastic surges.
It was, however, spared from tephra falls by the wind direction.
Most, or all of the victims in Herculaneum are believed to have been killed by the surges.
Evidence has been found of high temperatures on the skeletons of those found in the arched vaults on the seashore, which is now 500 metres inland, as well as the existence of carbonised wood in these buildings.