What happened when Vesuvius destroyed Pompeii?

The answer

On August 24, 79 CE, Mount Vesuvius erupted and buried the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum under up to six meters of volcanic ash and pumice in roughly 24 hours. The extreme heat - pyroclastic surges reached 300°C - killed approximately 2,000 people instantly. The ash preserved buildings, food, graffiti, and even body casts in extraordinary detail, giving archaeologists an unparalleled snapshot of daily Roman life.