Etna Volcano


Mt Etna on Sicily, locally called "Mongibello", is Europe's largest and most active volcano. Its frequent eruptions are often accompanied by large lava flows, but rarely pose danger to inhabited areas. Etna is one of the volcanoes with the longest historic records of eruptions, going back more than 2000 years.
Etna volcano eruptions: Near continuously active; some major historic eruptions include 122 BC (large Plinian outbursts that created the small caldera of the "Cratere del Piano"), 1669 AD (devastating flank eruption that destroyed 15 villages and part of Catania), 1787 (Subplinian eruption and one of the most spectacular summit eruptions on record - lava fountains reportedly up to 3000 m high).
Eruptions since 1950 (f: flank / s: summit activity): 1950 (s), 1950-51(f), 1955 (s), 1956 (s), 1956 (f), 1957 (s),1960 (s), 1961 (s), 1964 (f), 1964 (s), 1966 (s), 1966-1971(s), 1968 (f), 1971(f), 1972-1973 (s), 1974 (f), 1974-1975 (s), 1975-1977 (f), 1977-1978 (s), 1978 (f), 1979(s), 1979 (f), 1980 (s), 1981 (s), 1981 (f),1982-1983 (s), 1983(f), 1984(s), 1985(s), 1985(f), 1986(s), 1986-1987 (f), 1987(s), 1988(s), 1989(s), 1989(f), 1990 (s), 1991-93(f), 1995(s), 1996(s), 1997 (s), 1998 (s), 1999 (s), 2000 (s), 2001(s), 2001 (f), 2002(s), 2002-03(f), 2004-2005 (f), 2006 (s), 2007 (s), 2008-2009 (f), 2010(s), 2011-2013(s), 2014-18, 2018(f), 2019-ongoing (s)
Latest nearby earthquakes
Date and Time | Mag / Depth | Distance / Location | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apr 27, 05:43 pm (Universal Time) | 0.6 0.4 km | 7 km (4.3 mi) to the NE | ![]() | Info | |
Apr 27, 12:12 am (Universal Time) | 0.7 3.7 km | 9.9 km (6.2 mi) to the E | ![]() | Info | |
Apr 27, 12:02 am (Universal Time) | 0.7 2.8 km | 8.9 km (5.6 mi) to the E | ![]() | Info | |
Saturday, April 26, 2025 GMT (2 quakes) | |||||
Apr 26, 11:03 pm (Universal Time) | 1.5 5.3 km | 14 km (8.6 mi) to the E | ![]() | Info | |
Apr 26, 08:53 am (Universal Time) | 1.0 7.6 km | 13 km (7.8 mi) to the E | ![]() | Info | |
Thursday, April 24, 2025 GMT (1 quake) | |||||
Apr 24, 03:12 am (Universal Time) | 1.2 6.5 km | 8 km (5 mi) to the SE | ![]() | Info | |
Wednesday, April 23, 2025 GMT (1 quake) | |||||
Apr 23, 08:12 pm (Universal Time) | 1.2 11 km | 11 km (6.8 mi) to the NE | ![]() | Info | |
Sunday, April 20, 2025 GMT (1 quake) | |||||
Apr 20, 05:50 pm (Universal Time) | 2.2 15 km | 15 km (9.5 mi) to the W | ![]() | Info | |
Saturday, April 19, 2025 GMT (1 quake) | |||||
Apr 19, 07:57 pm (Universal Time) | 1.1 14 km | 4.6 km (2.8 mi) to the S | ![]() | Info |
Background
Mount Etna, towering above Catania, Sicily's second largest city, has one of the world's longest documented records of historical volcanism, dating back to 1500 BC. Historical lava flows cover much of the surface of this massive volcano, which makes it the highest and most voluminous in Italy. Ever since ancient times, the volcano seems to have been in near-constant activity. It is considered, after Kilauea on Hawaii, the second most active, i.e. productive volcano on earth.Two styles of eruptive activity typically occur at Etna:
(1) persistent explosive eruptions, sometimes with minor lava emissions, from one or more of the 4 prominent summit craters, the Bocca Nova, Voragine (the former Central Crater), NE Crater, and SE Crater (the latter formed in 1978).
(2) Flank eruptions, typically with higher effusion rates, are less frequent and originate from fissures that open on the volcano's flanks. Such flank eruptions, such as the spectacular recent ones in 2001 and 2002-03 commonly form cinder cones, which dot the volcano in their hundreds.
Etna Volcano Photos




Significant volcanic eruptions: Etna volcano
Additionally, there are 45 uncertain or discredited eruptions from Etna volcano.
Date | Note | VEI | Deaths | Damage | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
(eruption | Southern base of summit crater complex, SE crater | 0 | Info | ||
Summit activity (mostly: Southeast crater complex; intermittent activity at Voragine and NE craters, sub-terminal effusive flank vents) Historical obs./docs. | 2 | ||||
(eruption | Central summit crater (Voragine), sporadic activity at SE and NE crater | 3 | Info | ||
New Southeast Crater (NSEC) Historical obs./docs. | 3 | ||||
2018 Dec 26 (eruption | Historical obs./docs. | 2 | very heavy | Info | |
2017 Mar 15 (eruption | Historical obs./docs. | 0 | Info | ||
Bocca Nuova (BN) Historical obs./docs. | 3 | ||||
SEC (South-East Crater) Historical obs./docs. | 1 | ||||
East base of NE Crater (3000-2650 m) Historical obs./docs. | 1 | ||||
Bocca Nuova, SE Crater and flank vents Historical obs./docs. | 2 | ||||
SE Crater & flank vents; NE Crater Historical obs./docs. | 2 | ||||
Bocca Nuova Historical obs./docs. | 1 | ||||
SE Crater, SE flank (3000-2320 m) Historical obs./docs. | 1 | ||||
Central Crater Historical obs./docs. | 1? | ||||
NE Crater Historical obs./docs. | 1 | ||||
Central Crater, NE Crater Historical obs./docs. | 1 | ||||
NE Rift (3100-1900 m), S flank (2850-2600 m) Historical obs./docs. | 3 | ||||
2002 Oct 28 (eruption | Historical obs./docs. | 3 | moderate | Info | |
S to NE flanks (3100-2100 m) Historical obs./docs. | 2 | ||||
Central Crater, NE Crater, SE Crater Historical obs./docs. | 3 | ||||
2001 Jul 26 (eruption | Historical obs./docs. | 2 | light | Info | |
2001 May 14 (eruption | Historical obs./docs. | 3 | 1 | light | Info |
Etna Volcano FAQ
+When was the last eruption of Etna volcano?
The last confirmed eruption of Etna began in 2022 and is continuing (as of April 2025).
+How often does Etna volcano erupt?
Since 1500 BC, Etna volcano has had at least 186 historically documented eruptions. This means that it erupts on average every 19 years.
Many eruptions of Etna have lasted more than one year. In total, the volcano has been in eruption during 345 out of 3525 years until now. In other words, Etna has been active at least one in 10.2 years on average. Note that this value is likely an underestimate, because the known history of eruptions from Etna is likely incomplete, especially further back in time.
+How active is Etna volcano at present?
Etna volcano is extremely active: Since 1900, it has been near-continuously active, showing eruptive activity during 121 years out of 126 as of now. The latest eruption is still continuing at present.
+When was the largest eruption of Etna volcano?
The largest eruption of Etna volcano in historic times occurred in 122 BC. It ranks as a plinian eruption with a magnitude 5 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale. Eruption of this size are often catastrophic on a regional scale.
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