2021 Eruptions
Four paroxysmal eruptions occurred in 5 days at SE crater from 16-21 February 2021. The eruptions were accompanied by a 4-km long lava flow which reached the Valle del Bove at an altitude of 1700-1800 m.
2019 Eruptions
Strombolian eruptions occurred at Mt Etna volcano between April-September 2019.
2018 Eruptions
Strombolian explosions occurred in June and July 2018. Lava flows occurred from new southeast crater in late August and late November 2018.
2017 Eruptions
On 27th February 2017 Strombolian explosions which began on 23rd January 2017 intensified from new southeast crater at Mt Etna volcano. This was accompanied by a lava flow which quickly reached the base of the cone and directed toward the southwest, in the direction of Monte Frumento Supino. Ashfall was reported at Zafferana and Linguaglossa. The eruptions were accompanied by large amplitude tremor, but no ground deformation.
2015 Eruptions
Two paroxysmal eruptions occurred at Mt Etna volcano, Italy. The first eruption occurred at Voragine crater on 3rd December 2015 and was followed by Strombolian eruptions inside the crater. On 4th December there was a second paroxysm at Voragine crater. Lava fountains were visible and ash emission to 7000 m above the summit. The eruption was accompanied by ash emission from a new pit crater on the east flank of the New Southeast Crater. Volcanic tremor remains elevated. Three sulphur dioxide eruption plumes drifted to Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Iran and Turkmenistan.
2014 Eruptions
Strombolian activity at New Southeast Crater (NSEC) began on the evening of 21st January. Strombolian activity continued at Etna's New Southeast Crater and intensified on 12th February. In March, lava flows originating from a vent on the upper of New Southeast Crater wall traveled towards the Valle del Bove and also NE in the direction of Monte Simone.
2013 Eruptions
Eruptions occurred at 3 craters at Mt Etna volcano in February 2013. Five paroxysms at new southeast crater over past week. On 27th February Strombolian eruptions and small lava fountains were observed at Bocca Nuova crater. Magmatic activity has occurred at Voragine for the first time since 1999. Renewed eruptions on October 26 2013 occurred at new southeast crater and northeast crater.
2011 Eruption
On the evening of 11th January 2011 an increase in volcanic tremor was recorded at Mt Etna volcano. Seismic activity reached a peak at 07:00 hr on 12th January when the source moved from north of NE crater to the SE crater. This corresponded to weak eruptive activity at SE crater on 11th January. On 12th January eruptions increased with strombolian activity recorded at SE crater. About 21:00 hr, lava overflowed the eastern rim of SE crater, and fed a flow that moved toward the western wall of the Valle del Bove.
Lava fountains occurred at SE crater, Mt Etna volcano on the night of 12-13 January 2011. The eruption consisted of a sustained lava fountain, lava flow, and an ash column reaching several kilometres high. The lava fountain lasted 42 minutes from 22:48-23:30 hr on 12th January and reached a height of 300-500 m. The lava fountain became pulsating after this time and reached a height of 100-200 m until 0:55 hr on the morning of 13th January. Ashfall was reported on the south flank of Mt Etna. The eruption was preceded by smaller episodes of Strombolian activity from SE crater on 23rd December 2010, and the evening of 2-3 January 2011. A lava flow descended the western slope of the Valle del Bove in three branches and reached the base after midnight. The longest flow surrounded the northern side of Monte Centenari, 4.2 km from the vent. On the 13th January ash emissions were caused by a partial collapse within the cone and eruptive activity at Mt Etna's SE crater.
2010 Eruption and Earthquakes
An ash eruption occurred at the summit of Mt Etna volcano, Italy on 8th April 2010. The eruption occurred at the lower east flank of the Southeast Crater. The eruption increased the crater from 10 m to 50 m. The eruptions were preceded by a series of earthquakes at the Pernicana fault on 2nd April. This was the first time in 6 years that earthquakes occurred in this location on Mt Etna (NE flank). The largest earthquake was magnitude 4.2. Ground cracking occurred adjacent to Ragabo mountain hut. Mareneve road, which links the town of Linguaglossa to the tourist area of Piano Provenzana, was fractured in two locations. The earthquake focus was at a depth of 1 km, and surface fractures occurred over a distance of 1 km. At a location 1 km up slope from Ragabo mountain hut, there was vertical displacement of the ground by 20 cm.
2009 Eruptions
Eruptions resumed at Mt Etna volcano, Italy after 4 months of inactivity. On 7th November Strombolian eruptions commenced at the eastern flank of South East crater. On 8th November at 07:51 am there was a magnitude 4.4 earthquake beneath the southwest flank of Mt Etna at a depth of 10 km.
2008 Eruptions
A paroxysmal eruption began at south-east crater on 10 May 2008. This was followed on 13th May by two fissures opening between 3,050 and 2,650 m elevation on Etna’s upper east side. The fissures sent lava flows 5 km into the Valle del Bove.
July 2006 Eruption
On 14 July 2006 at 2330 hr a fissure opened on the E flank of the Southeast Crater. Two vents along the fissure produced a lava flow which spread 3 km E to the Valle del Bove. The eruption ended on 24 July.
2004-2005 Eruption
An effusive eruption that started on 7 September 2004 on the W wall of the Valle del Bove. The eruption ended in March 2005. During the flank lava flows, there were no explosions at the summit.
2002-2003 Flank Eruption
The 2002-2003 eruption was one of the most explosive flank eruptions in the past 150 years at Mt Etna. The magma mixed with groundwater and was phreatomagmatic. Ash fell as far away as the Greek island of Cefalonia. Between 26 and 27 October 2002, strong seismicity accompanied the opening of fissures on the S and NE flanks of the volcano. Along the 4-km-long NE-fissure, eruptions consisted of Strombolian, Hawaiian fountaining and minor phreatomagmatic activity. On 27
October 2002, during the opening of the S-fissure, a 1-km-long curtain of fire fed a grey plume that reached a height of more than 3 km above the fissure. Between 20 and 21 November, a new effusive vent opened at the SSE base of the 2750 m cinder cone, causing a lava flow that threatened Rifugio Sapienza at an altitude of 1920 m. The effusive activity at the S vent finished on 28 January 2003.
2001-2002 Eruption
This was the first in a new series of flank eruptions at the volcano. Etna's flank eruptions have previously occurred at intervals of 1.7 years, during each series. In 17th July– 9th August 2001 the eruption of Mt. Etna caused significant damage to tourist facilities, and for several days threatened the town of Nicolosi on the S flank of the volcano. Seven eruptive fissures were active, five on the S flank between 3,050 and 2,100 m altitude, and two on the NE flank between 3,080 and 2,600 m elevation. The most voluminous of which reached a length of 6.9 km. One of the eccentric vents, at 2,570 m elevation, was the site of vigorous phreatomagmatic activity as the dike cut through a shallow aquifer, during both the initial and closing stages of the eruption. the eruption confirmed a trend, initiated during the past 50 years, toward higher production rates and more frequent eruptions, which occurred in the early to mid seventeenth century.
Between 1971 and 2001, the Southeast Crater was the most productive of the four summit craters of Mount Etna, with activity that can be compared, on a global scale, to the opening phases of the Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō-Kūpaianaha eruption of Kīlauea volcano, Hawai‘i.
1999 Eruptions
Eruptions began at Mt Etna on 4th September 1999. Eruption column from Voragine reached several km high. Lapilli and ash fell on the east flank to the coast (Giarre). A 0.5 km-long debris flow directed southward formed from the upper slope of the summit cone. In November 1999 there was Strombolian eruption and mild vulcanian activity in Bocca Nuova crater.
1998 Eruption
Eruptions from Voragine at the summit of Mt Etna volcano began on 22nd July 1998 and produced an eruption column 9 km high. Lapilli and ash fell south-southeast at Catania and Siracusa. The deposit was 4 cm thick at 4 km away. Ash fell in Zafferana and Catania.
1995 Eruption
An eruption from northeast crater at Etna on 23rd December 1995 produced lapilli and ashfall on the east flank to the coast (Giarre). The eruption disrupted flights to Catania, affected road traffic, and damaged vegetation.
1991-93 Eruptions
On 14th December 1991 an eruption began at Mount Etna
from a fissure on the east flank of SE Crater. Lava fountaining and flows lasted a few hours before a fissure opened downslope in a SSE direction, between 2400 and 2200 altitude. The main lava flow erupted from this vent from 15th December 1991 until 31st March 1993. The 473-day eruption was the most voluminous flank eruption at Etna in the past three centuries. It was smaller in volume than the eruption in 1669. The long duration and low effusion rate of the eruption
made it less dangerous than other recent eruptions such as 1981, and 1989.
1992 Lava Flow diversion
During the 1992 eruption of Etna earthworks are used to save the town of Zafferana Etnea from lava flows. In January 1992 an earth barrier 234 m long and 21 m high was constructed. The embankment contained lava for about a month and was overflowed on 9th April 1992. Three additional smaller earthen barriers (length: 90-160 m; height: 6-12 m ) were built in April to gain time while the lava front was descending towards Zafferana from the overflowed first embankment. The main intervention point was located in Valle del Bove at an elevation of 2000 m, at 8 km from Zafferana. Initial interventions called for attempts at plugging a
tunnel by dumping into it linked concrete blocks, hedgehogs and blasted portions of the solid levee. Each intervention caused the partial obstruction of the tunneled channel, which determined major increases of lava overflow in Valle del Bove and the consequent halt of the most advanced fronts. The intervention gave at the most two weeks of respite, before new lava fronts approached the outskirts of Zafferana. The final successful intervention was carried out on May 27-29, 1992. An artificial channel was dug departing from the natural one. The solid separation levee
was thinned to 3 m and blasted by 7000 kg of explosives. After the explosion, 2/3 of the lava flowed spontaneously in the artificial channel. As a consequence of the intervention the active natural lava front, that on May 27 was only 850 m
from Zafferana stopped.
1990 Eruption
On 4-5 January 1990 an eruption from SE crater at Mt Etna produced lapilli and ashfall on the NW flank reaching the Tyrrhenian coast from S. Stefano di Camastra to Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto.
1986 Eruption
An eruption of NE crater at Mt Etna volcano on 24th September 1986 produced a column 10 –13 km-high and ash fallout on the SE flank as far as 80 km away. Ash reached Siracusa and caused the closure of the Catania airport. Lava ejecta reached 1,000–1,500 m above the vent, and the summit area was covered with bombs up to 2 m in diameter.
1983 Eruption
On 28 March 1983, lava was erupted from a fissure 750 m in length extending from about 3000 m down to 2250 m asl. The main effusion occurred from boccas (vent) between 2320 m and 2265 m asl. The 131 day eruption was characterised by a succession of advancing, partly overlapping flows for the first 60 days. This was followed from about the 60th day, by lava emplacement within an area within 3 km of the effusive boccas. Much of the activity consisted of effusion from ephemeral boccas fed by the main lava tube in the region between 1900 m and 1600 m altitude.
Human-made diversion of lava flows at Mt Etna in 1983.
During the 1983 eruption at My Etna, earthworks were used effectively to divert lava flows away from inhabited areas. During 50 days of 13 working hours per day a total volume of 750,000 cubic m of material was moved and about 10 km of service roads were built. The construction of the two barriers in the Piano Vetore area meant that the Serra la Nava pinewood zone was saved from lava flows. The saved zone included the Grand Hotel of Etna, the Astrophysics Observatory as well as numerous housing estates.
1981 Eruption
The beginning of the 1981 eruption was observed during a helicopter overflight of the volcano. The first fissure opened at 13.37 h local time on 17 March 1983, on the northeast rift at about 2550 m altitude. Fissures opened up progressively down the northern flank of the volcano and by 19.30 h they had reached an altitude of about 1400 m altitude. By the morning of 18 March lava had flowed 6 km. Mild strombolian activity continued from the lowermost vent above Randazzo until the evening of 23
March.
1979 Eruption
On 3rd August 1979 an eruption from SE crater at Mt Etna ejected metre-sized bombs up to 300 m from the vent and bombs with a maximum diameter of 0.5 m reached a distance of 500 m. This eruption produced ashfall in Catania and Siracusa causing the closure of the Catania airport.
1960 Eruption
On 7th July 1960 an eruption from the central crater at Mt Etna volcano produced a column several km high. Lapilli and ash fell northeast reaching Taormina and Messina and causing
damage to agricultural land. Forest fires were ignited by incandescent pyroclastics up to 7 km from the summit, at 1,700– 1,800 m of elevation. The most affected sector was in the Linguaglossa-Fiumefreddo area, where lapilli up to 5 cm fell.
1947 Eruption
On 5-6 February 1947 an eruption from North East Crater at Mt Etna produced lapilli and ashfall on the eastern flank to the coast. A continuous lapilli deposit with bombs up to 8 cm covered the Giarre area.
1940 Eruption
An eruption began at Mt Etna on 16th March 1940. Ash fell on the eastern flank between Taormina and Catania. Coarse ash fell in Messina and Reggio Calabria.
1928 Eruption
An eruption began at Mt Etna on 2nd November 1928 with a vent opening at 2900 m elevation on NE flank of the volcano. On 3rd November a vent opened between about 2,200 and 1,550 m on the Serra delle Concazze, and more vents opened on 4th November along the Ripa della Naca fault at 1,200 m. On the 6th November lava entered the town of Mascali, situated at the foot of the volcano, at only 100 m, and by 7th November the town was mostly destroyed. This was the most damaging eruption of Etna since the devastation of Catania in 1669.
1910 Eruption
On 23rd March 1910 a large fissure formed, which extended from Monte Castello for two kilometers to the western base of the Montagnuola. Over 20 craters formed over the next few days, which ejected lava, incandescent lapilli, and bombs, together with clouds of steam and ash. On 24th March, lava from the highest point of the fissure, near the Observatory, erupted forming a river 1,500 feet wide, which flowed at the rate of sixty or more feet per hour for a distance of two kilometers. Later lava flowed mostly from the lower craters (from Volta di Girolamo, about 7,000 feet altitude) and formed a river of molten rock one hundred and fifty feet wide. The lava flowed southward until it reached the eastern side of Monte Faggi, two kilometers below, and formed a magnificent cascade thirty-five feet wide and seventy high. By the 31st March
lava flows had reached Borello and Belpasso and close to Nicolosi. The flows destroyed many gardens, vineyards, and woodlands near the villages. The town of Cavaliere was covered with ash and the fertile region of Cisterna Regina was destroyed. The eruption of 1910 lasted twenty-nine days.
1908 Eruption and Earthquake
An eruption occurred on the southern slope of the Valle del Bove on Etna
lasting under twenty-four hours; earthquakes occurred, but no new craters
were formed and but little lava was produced. On 21st December 1908 a large earthquake destroyed the two cities of Messina and Reggio on opposite sides of the strait which separates Sicily from Italy. According to the official record of the Italian government there were 96,871 deaths. At the same time both Stromboli and Etna showed signs of restlessness.
In the nineteenth century nineteen eruptions were recorded at Mt Etna, an average
of one for nearly every five years.
1892 Eruption
A crater formed near Monte Gemellaro, and lava flowed southward with an initial velocity of 380-540 feet per hour, which reached within one and a quarter miles from Borelli and two and one-half miles from of Nicolosi.
1886 Eruption
A three week long eruption occurred in 1886at Mt Etna. On May 18 dense clouds of steam and ash rose from the central crater. The next morning an earthquake occurred on the
southern slope and a new crater, (Monte Gemellaro 4,650 feet above the sea), was formed northeast of Monte Concilio, four and a half miles above Nicolosi. The crater produced steam, ashes, and molten lava, accompanied by
loud detonations. From the southern base of this crater lava flowed for seventeen days in the direction of Nicolosi at the rate of 160 to 190 feet per hour.
1883 Eruption
Eruption at Mt Etna was preceded and accompanied by earthquakes, a radical fissure running
north and south opened from the central crater.
1879 Eruption
Lasting from May 26 to June 6, forming Monte Umberta Margherita crater, 4,705 feet above sea level, on the northern slope. A lava flow almost reached Alcantara.
1865 Eruption
The town of La Macchia above Giarre on the northeastern base was destroyed by earthquake.
1863 Eruption
On 7th July 1863 a central crater eruption at Mt Etna produced lapilli and ashfall on the southeastern flank and over southeastern Sicily. A few centimetre ash layer covered the beach of Catania (Playa beach). Ash fall is reported on Malta Island and on the Calabrian coast. The “Casa Inglese” shelter at 2,957 m was destroyed
by metre-sized bombs. Bombs up to 13 cm in size fell about 2.5 km away from the vent. Damage to the cultivated areas of the SE flank.
1852- 53 Eruptions
Eruptions lasted ten months and ejected 420 million cubic meters of lava.
1832 Eruption
Village of Bronte on the northeastern side of the mountain narrowly escaped destruction.
1819 Eruption
Eruption lasted two months.
1812 Eruption
Eruption lasted six months.
1800 Eruption
An eruption on 4th March 1800 from the central crater at Etna produced lapilli and ashfall on the northern flank to the Tyrrhenian coast (Milazzo area). Scoria up to 344 g injured people in the area of Roccella Val Demone (20 km from the vent) and Moio Alcantara.
1787 Eruption
An eruption on 18th July 1787 from the central crater produced lapilli and ashfall on the south-eastern flank. Ash fell on Malta Island. Damage to the forests down to 1,000 m elevation.
1224 Eruption
An eruption began in August 1224 at Mt Etna with flank lava flows originating from vents between 600-800 m elevation. Three lava flows burned the forest for a length of 4.5- 7.5 km. Lava reached the sea and set fire to boats.
1693 Eruption
Eruption was accompanied by an earthquake which nearly destroyed Catania.
1669 Eruption
This was the largest and most destructive eruption at Mt Etna. The eruption began in April 1669. Every house in Nicolosi was destroyed by an earthquake. The fields above the town were converted into a fiery lake of lava which enveloped a part of the hill of "Monpilieri," which stopped the stream for a time. The lava divided into three branches, the main one which reached Catania. Lava flowed the first thirteen miles in twenty days, or an average of about 162 feet per hour, while it took twenty-three days for the last two miles, or twenty-two feet per hour. The lava took eight years to cool. Lava flowed to the sea in a 600 m wide front. When lava flows reached Catania, it flowed over the sixty-foot city wall in a fiery cascade and destroyed a large section of the town.
1185 Eruption
15,000 people killed.
1169 Eruption
A a large part of Catania was destroyed, including the cathedral with its bishop and congregation.
40 AD Eruption
Catania destroyed by an eruption.
122 BC Eruption
A basaltic Plinian eruption occurred at Etna in 122 BC. Roman chronicles describing a
large eruption which caused heavy lapilli fall in Catania, and the sun was blocked for days.
396 BC Eruption
A great lava stream reached the sea on the northeastern base of the volcano.
425 BC Eruption
In the spring of 425 BC a "fire-flood issued from Aetna (Etna) as on former occasions and destroyed the territory of Catania".
2021, 2020, 2019, 2017, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2011, 2010, 2006-09, 2004-05, 2002-03, 1994-2001, 1993, 1993, 1991-93, 1990-92, 1989-90, 1989, 1988-89, 1987, 1986-87, 1984-86, 1984, 1983, 1981, 1981, 1981, 1980, 1980, 1979-92, 1971-79, 1966-71, 1959-64, 1959, 1958, 1957-58, 1957, 1955-56, 1953?, 1951-52, 1950-51, 1949-50, 1947, 1947, 1946, 1945, 1942-44, 1942, 1940-42, 1935-39, 1934, 1931-33, 1930, 1929, 1928, 1928, 1926, 1924-25, 1923-24, 1923, 1919-23, 1918, 1918, 1917, 1913-17, 1912, 1911, 1911, 1910-11, 1910, 1908-09, 1908, 1899-1907, 1899, 1893-98, 1892, 1892, 1891, 1886, 1884-85, 1883, 1879, 1878-83, 1874, 1874, 1869, 1868, 1865, 1864, 1863, 1857, 1852-53, 1843, 1842, 1838-39, 1833, 1832, 1828-32, 1827, 1822, 1819, 1816?, 1811-12, 1810, 1809, 1803-09, 1802, 1797-1801, 1792-93, 1792, 1791, 1787, 1781, 1780, 1776, 1770?, 1767, 1766, 1764-65, 1763, 1763, 1758-59, 1755, 1752-58, 1747-49, 1744-45, 1735-36, 1732-33, 1723-24, 1702, 1693-94, 1693?, 1689, 1688, 1682, 1669, 1654-56?, 1651-53, 1646-47, 1643, 1634-38, 1633?, 1614-24, 1610, 1603-10, 1595?, 1579-80?, 1566, 1554?, 1541, 1540, 1537, 1536, 1494?, 1447, 1446, 1444, 1408, 1381?, 1350, 1333, 1329, 1329, 1284-85, 1250, 1222, 1194, 1169?, 1164, 1160, 1157, 1063, 1044?, 1004?, 911?, 859?, 814?, 812?, 644?, 417?, 252?, 80?, 39, 10, 10 BC, 32 BC, 36 BC, 44 BC, 49 BC, 56 BC, 61 BC, 122 BC, 126 BC, 135 BC, 141 BC, 350 BC, 396 BC?, 425-24 BC? 479-76 BC?, 565 BC?, 695, 735 BC?, 1500 BC.