Life is unpredictable and nature always has a heavy hand. Among the events of history's most destructive natural disasters that crushed civilizations and reduced cities to rubble, the one that engulfed Pompeii is perhaps the most haunting. 1700 years ago, residents of a prosperous Italian city called Pompeii were caught unawares when a heavy rain of molten ash and pumice as hot as 1300 degree Fahrenheit started pouring. A deadly volcano Mount Vesuvius had erupted striking the city with disaster. Those who couldn't escape choked to death and got buried inside a thick layer of ash. When the survivors came back looking for their belongings, they found that their city had been wiped off the face of the earth, as if it never existed. The entire city was submerged, as it was, under a 20 foot thick blanket of volcanic material. It was later in 1748 that scientists, during an excavation, found the city sleeping intact in the lap of time.

The excavation continues even today.

First discovered in 18th century, the excavation is still going on with three-fourth of the city unearthed, and one fourth yet to be discovered.

Visiting Pompeii is like travelling back in time. The city's artifacts, buildings, household items, statues, wall paintings and decorations are all intact. Surprisingly, some loaves of bread have also been found!

Source businessinsider.in

Vesuvius may erupt again

While excavation of the remaining city is carried out, experts believe that another Vesuvius eruption can occur anytime again in the future. If this is true, then there's a population of 3 million that resides at the verge of danger.

Source history.com