In Pompeii and the surrounding suburbs, this surge came only after a steady rain of lapilli and ash had buried most victims in their homes.  Those who had remained out of doors in Pompeii were killed last by the surge.

The next part of the eruption consisted of pyroclastic flow, a high-speed avalanche of hot ash, rock fragments, and gas, which traveled down the side of Vesuvius in explosive eruptions.  These flows, which can reach 1000 degrees F and move at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour, are capable of knocking down and burning everything in their paths.  In Herculaneum, this flow covered the already-buried town, creating a seal that preserved bones and organic matter—including wood, elements of vegetation and even clothing fibers.


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