Tourist survives fall into Mount Vesuvius

The volcano that eradicated Pompeii nearly 2,000 years ago almost claimed another victim Wednesday. Italian volcano guides lowered a rope 50 feet into the volcano to retrieve an American tourist who fell into the mountain’s crater after trying to retrieve his cellphone — which park guides said he lost after stepping outside of the roped-off path for a selfie, according to the LaPresse news agency.

Is the tourist alright? As far as his health is concerned, volcano guides treated the tourist for scrapes on his legs. But legally speaking, his footing is less than stable. Carabinieri police cited the man and his family members for going off the authorized path. Mount Vesuvius last erupted in 1944. Scientists study the volcano closely and say they should have advance warning before the next eruption.

Dig deeper: Read Onize Ohikere’s report in World Tour report on an archaeological discovery at Pompeii.