How Did This Natural Disaster Happen? What Is The Process Of This Disaster?

A picture of a plinian eruption

There are different types of eruptions and each has different dangers. Mt Vesuvius is a composite volcano and can erupt in two different ways.When Pompeii was buried it was a plinian eruption.The plinian eruption is the largest most violent volcanic erruption. Plinian eruptions don't have lava flowing down the side of the volcano like you see in movies (although this is the other way Mt Vesuvius can erupt).They happen when gassy magma breaks up causing lots of built up pressure.this pressure bulids up until it erupts. huge ash clouds and rocks are thrust out and can go up to 50km high!The huge ash cloud looks a bit like an umbrella tree or mushroom. The ash suffocates every thing when it lands on the ground because it lands so thick. Also the gas from the volcano is poisonous and can kill you if you breathe it in.