The suburban areas of Oplontis and Terzigno, on the outskirts of Pompeii, were home to agricultural villas. The town of Oplontis lay about three miles northwest of Pompeii, while Terzigno, an area where the rich volcanic soil was cultivated for wine grapes, lay to the north, between Vesuvius and Pompeii. As it had done to the citizens of the larger towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum, the eruption of Vesuvius caught residents of these areas by surprise as well. Just as it had in Pompeii, the eruption began around mid-day on August 24th, as the column of ash and pumice rose to block out the light of the sun and plunge the area into darkness. Over the course of the day, as the volcano roared and tremors shook the area, ash and volcanic debris fell, accumulating heavily on the roofs of houses and causing their collapse.

The end came sooner for the residents of the suburbs than it did for those in Pompeii. The second stage of the eruption began around one o’clock on the morning of August 25th, following the collapse of the eruptive column. Like Herculaneum, the suburban areas fell victim to the superheated pyroclastic surges that raced down Vesuvius’ flanks at high speeds, obliterating all signs of life.

Pompeii
Herculaneum