Dr. Jessica Venner

They're the victims of this in the worst case scenario, because that's exactly where the pyroclastic flows are falling.

And so after this pumice has been raining for a while, then we've got larger lumps coming down and they're very, very hot.

They're at a level that has been measured now that would burn the skin upon contact.

So that's terrifying.

And because this pumice is building up, it's causing roofs to collapse.

So over the hours that are coming, by early evening, it's completely dark.

No one can see.

The noise of it must have been absolutely petrifying.

There was lightning in the clouds because of the effects of the volcanic eruption.

And then after a while, at about 7pm, it is thought now, the first pyroclastic flow falls down from the column.

And this is where the column has become so heavy that it's collapsed in on itself.

And it's like an avalanche.

And it is very much like an avalanche because apparently it's not that loud either.

They would have heard it to an extent, but it was more like a little rumble.

And so this pyroclastic flow collapses.

comes down and completely buries Herculaneum under 20 metres of volcanic material.

By the end of the eruption, it would be under 20 metres, which is just... It's incredible.

It's crazy.

And most people say to me, oh yeah, I was on the cliff.

And I think, well, that's not a cliff actually.