Pompeii

Mt. Vesuvius destroyed the city Pompeii in the year 79. Many people where killed and only a few survived. Mt Vesuvius lies in Italy right next to Pompeii. Here is a letter from a eye-witness named Pliny a poet: 

I was living with my uncle when Vesuvius erupted. My uncle wanted a closer view of the explosion so he got into one of his boats and sailed over to get a closer view. When he got to the bay he said "bring me to shore" and he went straight to a friends house. My uncle wanted to soothe the household so he cheerfully (or with the appearance of it) sat down to eat dinner. Then he and his friend wondered if they should flee or stay put. They decided to go to the shore to get a better look and they tied pillows to their heads to protect them. My uncle got some smoke in his lungs and had to sit down. When the smoke cleared two days later he was found dead. Me and my mother were still in our house and when I saw the black smoke come down I told my mother to flee. Many called to the gods to save them and more cried that there was no gods. Finally when it was over Pompeii had been buried. 

Many people escaped but over two thousand died trying to find their loved ones or their loved possessions. Not till 1748 did people take interest in Pompeii and not till 1860 did people start clearing away the ashes.