VESUVIUS ACTIVE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 30, 6 February 1933, Page 7

VESUVIUS ACTIVE.

OMINOUS OUTBURST.

Terrified Villagers Run from Their Homes. FEARS OF FURTHER DISASTER. (United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 11.30 a.m.) NAPLES, February 5. After two years of absolute quiet Vesuvius suddenly burst into activity, hurling showers of incandescent stones into the air and causing-a fiery glow in the sky. This terrorised the inhabitants in the surrounding villages, who are quitting their homes. It is predicted that the volcano's activity is likely to increase in intensity until the spring, when it is feared there will be a serious eruption, though less catastrophic than in 1929.

Over the past few a great revival of activity has been noted in Mount Vesuvius by Professor Molladro, of the summit observatory. Records show that on July 30, 1927, an old cone burst open on the western side, omitting a lava stream and destroying part of the observatory steps and equipment. Activity continued for many days, providing a magnificent spectacle at night, a huge column of flame extending from the crater. Naples was crowded with tourists, the bay being almost filled with liners delaying their trips to witness the scene. The mountain was covered with cinders, and tourists were prohibited from approaching the summit. Almost exactly a year later,, another spectacular, but harmless, display was afforded, and again in t November, 1928, Vesuvius became active when Etna, in Sicily, quietened down after one of ■ its most tragic eruptions of recent years. On June 4, 1929, Vesuvius again gave a magnificent display, the column of fire rising 1500 ft in the air. Lava overflowed the surrounding district, completely filling "Hell Valley,," and necessitating the evacuation of the villages of Tersigno and Barre. This continued for several days. The last cabled account of activity was the overflowing of accumulated lava from the crater in October, 1930. Vesuvius was dormant until A.D. 63, when it showed signs of awakening. The 1 famous eruption in which Pompeii and Herculaneum were destroyed in a vast shower of pasty mud (not lava and cinders) occurred in A.D. 79. In December, 1631, the mountain again erupted, the death-roll being over 18,000.