Earthquakes added to Pompeii’s death toll
Building collapses may have killed people sheltering from an erupting volcano
When Italy’s Mount Vesuvius erupted nearly 2,000 years ago, hot ash and gas killed more than 1,500 people in the ancient city of Pompeii. But volcanic earthquakes may also have been deadly: The skeleton of a 50-year-old man (shown) has severe fractures that suggest he was crushed by crumbled walls of the house he took cover in.