How big was the cloud that covered Pompeii?

The cloud that covered Pompeii during its destruction in 79 AD was a pyroclastic flow, not a cloud in the traditional sense. A pyroclastic flow is a fast-moving current of hot gas, ash, and volcanic fragments that can reach temperatures of up to 1,000 degrees Celsius and travel at speeds of up to 700 kilometers per hour.

The pyroclastic flow that covered Pompeii originated from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, a volcano located in the Bay of Naples, Italy. The eruption was one of the most powerful in history and released an estimated 100,000 to 300,000 tons of magma and ash into the atmosphere. The pyroclastic flow that buried Pompeii was approximately 10-20 kilometers long and 5 kilometers wide.