Eruption History
Etna's eruptions have been documented since 1500 BC, when volcanic eruptions initiated by the interaction of magma and water, drove people living in the eastern part of the island to migrate to its western end. The volcano has experienced more than 200 eruptions since then, although most are moderately small.
The 1669 Eruption
Etna's most destructive eruption started on 11 March 1669 and produced lava flows that destroyed at least 10 villages on its southern flank before reaching the city walls of the town of Catania five weeks later, on 15 April. The lava was largely diverted by these walls into the sea to the south of the city, filling the harbour of Catania. A small portion of lava eventually broke through a fragile section of the city walls on the western side of Catania and destroyed a few buildings before stopping in the rear of the Benedictine monastery, without reaching the centre of the town. Contrary to widespread reports of up to 15,000 (or even 20,000) human fatalities caused by the lava, accounts written both in Italian and English mention no deaths related to the 1669 eruption (but give very precise figures of the number of buildings destroyed, the area of cultivated land lost, and the economic damage), so it can be safely assumed that the enormous number of fatalities often picked up also by the news media must be a confusion with the earthquake that devastated southeast Sicily (including Catania) 24 years later, in 1693.
The 1669 Eruption
Etna's most destructive eruption started on 11 March 1669 and produced lava flows that destroyed at least 10 villages on its southern flank before reaching the city walls of the town of Catania five weeks later, on 15 April. The lava was largely diverted by these walls into the sea to the south of the city, filling the harbour of Catania. A small portion of lava eventually broke through a fragile section of the city walls on the western side of Catania and destroyed a few buildings before stopping in the rear of the Benedictine monastery, without reaching the centre of the town. Contrary to widespread reports of up to 15,000 (or even 20,000) human fatalities caused by the lava, accounts written both in Italian and English mention no deaths related to the 1669 eruption (but give very precise figures of the number of buildings destroyed, the area of cultivated land lost, and the economic damage), so it can be safely assumed that the enormous number of fatalities often picked up also by the news media must be a confusion with the earthquake that devastated southeast Sicily (including Catania) 24 years later, in 1693.
DID YOU KNOW?
In 122 BC, when an explosive eruption rained so much ash onto the town of Catania that many of its buildings were destroyed by roof collapses, the town's inhabitants were exempted from paying taxes to Rome for ten years!!!!!
In 122 BC, when an explosive eruption rained so much ash onto the town of Catania that many of its buildings were destroyed by roof collapses, the town's inhabitants were exempted from paying taxes to Rome for ten years!!!!!
The 1928 Eruption
In November 1928 there was an eruption of Mount Etna, Sicily, which led to lava largely destroying the town of Mascali, situated low on the eastern flank of the volcano. Destruction of the town took just over a day but there was an orderly evacuation of its inhabitants and, with help from the military, families were able to remove furniture and fittings from their houses. Evacuees were relocated to nearby towns staying with relatives, friends or in hired apartments. Rebuilding Mascali provided an opportunity for the fascist government of the time to demonstrate efficient centralised planning. A completely new town was built on a grid-iron plan with many of the buildings reflecting the 'fascist architecture' of the time. The town was complete by 1937 and housing conditions were very advanced in comparison with other towns in the region. The 1928 eruption is important as it was the most destructive on Etna since 1669 when the city of Catania was overwhelmed. In terms of hazard and risk assessment the 1928 eruption demonstrates that lava can reach the lower flanks of the volcano within a short period after the onset of an eruption.
In November 1928 there was an eruption of Mount Etna, Sicily, which led to lava largely destroying the town of Mascali, situated low on the eastern flank of the volcano. Destruction of the town took just over a day but there was an orderly evacuation of its inhabitants and, with help from the military, families were able to remove furniture and fittings from their houses. Evacuees were relocated to nearby towns staying with relatives, friends or in hired apartments. Rebuilding Mascali provided an opportunity for the fascist government of the time to demonstrate efficient centralised planning. A completely new town was built on a grid-iron plan with many of the buildings reflecting the 'fascist architecture' of the time. The town was complete by 1937 and housing conditions were very advanced in comparison with other towns in the region. The 1928 eruption is important as it was the most destructive on Etna since 1669 when the city of Catania was overwhelmed. In terms of hazard and risk assessment the 1928 eruption demonstrates that lava can reach the lower flanks of the volcano within a short period after the onset of an eruption.
Latest Eruptions
Eruption on 17 November 2013
The Mount Etna eruption that began Saturday lit up the sky and ejected lava and gases into the atmosphere, which generated a plume of smoke that could be seen from the island of Sicily. According to a Associated Press report via Fox News, the eruption didn't endanger any nearby villages close to the mountain's slopes, and no evacuations were necessary. Mount Etna entered into a state of eruption Saturday and ended Sunday morning. Mount Etna is in almost a constant state of activity, although the last major eruption occurred in 1992. The eruption on Saturday was preceded by a series of underground tremors that could be felt in the region during Friday. The eruptive activity of Mount Etna lasted several hours. The eruption took place in a very active crater southeast of the volcano, and the lava that resulted from the eruption progressed up the slope of the Valle del Bove, a desert area.
The Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology in Catania reported that after a dozen tremors during the night, at around 4 in the morning hours of Saturday the volcano began to expel lava. The previous eruption occurred on October 26, 2013. The Mount Etna eruption on that day forced the closure of airspace around Sicily during the pre-dawn hours and into the early morning. So far there were 16 episodes in 2013, according to the Italian media.
The Mount Etna eruption that began Saturday lit up the sky and ejected lava and gases into the atmosphere, which generated a plume of smoke that could be seen from the island of Sicily. According to a Associated Press report via Fox News, the eruption didn't endanger any nearby villages close to the mountain's slopes, and no evacuations were necessary. Mount Etna entered into a state of eruption Saturday and ended Sunday morning. Mount Etna is in almost a constant state of activity, although the last major eruption occurred in 1992. The eruption on Saturday was preceded by a series of underground tremors that could be felt in the region during Friday. The eruptive activity of Mount Etna lasted several hours. The eruption took place in a very active crater southeast of the volcano, and the lava that resulted from the eruption progressed up the slope of the Valle del Bove, a desert area.
The Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology in Catania reported that after a dozen tremors during the night, at around 4 in the morning hours of Saturday the volcano began to expel lava. The previous eruption occurred on October 26, 2013. The Mount Etna eruption on that day forced the closure of airspace around Sicily during the pre-dawn hours and into the early morning. So far there were 16 episodes in 2013, according to the Italian media.