Flood damage in Pompeii

In the ancient city of Pompeii, the collapse of a wall at the Temple of Venus was among damage caused by heavy rains in early March. 

In 2010 the House of Gladiators collapsed, with heavy rains suspected as the cause. Repairs began in February 2013 using funds of $160 million from the European Union. Citizens have cited the need for better maintenance to clear drainage channels so areas do not become waterlogged.

In AD 79, an eruption of nearby Mt. Vesuvius covered Pompeii in a thick layer of ash. Located near modern Naples, Italy, it was excavated in 1748 and became a tourist attraction, now with about 2½ million visitors a year.