ROME — Part of the wall of a house in the ancient city of
Pompeii collapsed on Friday, raising fresh concerns about the
state of one of the world's most treasured archaeological sites.
Officials said the wall was part of a 2,000-year-old house on
the Vicolo del Modesto, in a section of the site that had
already been declared off limits to the public for safety
reasons. Science news from NBCNews.com About two square meters
(yards) of the wall were involved in the collapse, which
occurred after heavy rainstorms swept over most of southern
Italy. The street where the collapse took place is located in an
area of the dig that came to light in excavations in the 19th
century. Ancient Pompeii, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site,
was frozen in time when Mount Vesuvius erupted in the year 79,
burying inhabitants alive and preserving their homes. It has
been the scene of a string of collapses in recent years,
sparking international worry about the decay and perilous
condition of the site. There were at least two ser