The threat of nature’s anger even today forces humans to tremble. Haile Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia, Africa suddenly erupted after 12,000 years. The cloud of hot ash emanating from this volcano has reached the sky of Delhi via Gujarat-Rajasthan. Due to this, many flights across the country had to be canceled or diverted. This volcano that erupted in Ethiopia also brought back memories of the terrible eruption that took place at Mount Vesuvius in Italy 1,946 years ago.
In 79 AD, two strong earthquakes created such a crack on Mount Vesuvius that the volcano, which had been sleeping for thousands of years, suddenly erupted one day. The lava and poisonous gas emanating from this volcano turned the Roman city of Pompeii into ashes in a single night and thousands of people became skeletons while sleeping. Let us re-examine that tragedy of history, which remains the basis of volcanology even today…
Vesuvius, situated in the Campania region, erupted on 24 August 79 AD. It is counted among the deadliest disasters in Roman history. The volcano started spewing a huge cloud of hot ash and gases up to a height of 33 kilometers. Molten rock, pumice dust and hot ash flowed out of Mount Vesuvius at a speed of 1.5 million tons per second. It is estimated that the total energy released from this volcanic eruption was 100,000 times more than the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima-Nagasaki.
Waves of 700 degree Celsius hot ash kept flowing from Mount Vesuvius at a speed of 100 kilometers per hour. It rained ash and pumice for hours. However, the people of Pompeii city, situated close to this mountain, could not fully realize this danger. Within a few minutes, these waves swallowed the cities situated along the Gulf of Naples and people became skeletons while sleeping in deep sleep.
However, this devastation did not happen overnight. The two major earthquakes that occurred here a few years ago are considered to be a major reason behind the eruption of this silent volcano. In fact, according to the records recorded in Roman history, there was a major earthquake in the Gulf of Naples on 5 February 62 AD, which shook Pompeii badly. Walls collapsed, temples were broken, roads were torn up. Many buildings destroyed by this earthquake were being repaired when another small earthquake occurred in 64 AD.
At the same time, just four days before the eruption of Vesuvius, some small earthquakes occurred, but these were not considered alarm bells. However, this earthquake caused cracks in the rocks, and boiling red lava erupted above. Then came that dark day. Pliny the Younger from the city of Misenum has given a vivid description of this incident. In the morning, a huge cloud like a pine tree appeared in the sky… spread at the top, thick at the bottom. The rain of ash and pumice continued for hours. People ran to save their lives, but the ash from the volcano swallowed everything. The city of Pompeii was completely destroyed. Layers of ash preserved more than 1,500 bodies, which archaeologists found intact for thousands of years. Excavations in Pompeii uncovered houses, temples, markets and bread shops, where loaves were cooked in ovens. It is estimated that 10,000-16,000 people lost their lives in the volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius.
The eruption in the Ethiopian volcano was not as dangerous as Mount Vesuvius, but like Vesuvius, it was also sitting silent for about 10 thousand years and earthquake is believed to be the reason behind this explosion. This part of the Erta Ale range is the center of collision of the Earth’s plates. The explosion spewed a plume of ash and sulfur dioxide up to a height of 10-15 kilometers, which reached the skies of India flying at a speed of 100-120 kilometers per hour. In view of this volcanic ash, DGCA issued an advisory to airlines on Monday, in which they have been asked to avoid going to areas with this ash, because the particles of this ash can stick to the engine and damage it.
Scientists say such explosions are increasing due to climate change. Vesuvius taught us not to ignore nature’s warnings. If the ashes of Ethiopia are blackening Delhi, are we ready? Earthquake cracks are visible even today… like 62 AD. As soon as the volcano erupts, fire flows, and humans get buried in ashes while sleeping. This is not history, this is a warning…
