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The mother of volcanoes -

Mount Etna, located on the east coast of Sicily, Italy, is the tallest and most active volcano in Europe. The volcano has seen many eruptions during recorded history, and many of them have wrought untold destruction on villages and human life.

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Culture -

Etna's eruptions have profoundly shaped the culture and history of the region, and the volcano has even been ingrained in local folklore. In Greek mythology, the serpentine monster known as Typhon (right) was trapped under Etna by Zeus (left), the king of the gods.

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Tectonic plates -

The reason why Mount Etna is so volatile is because of its location. The world’s continents rest on what is known as tectonic plates, which are basically puzzle pieces that constantly move and shift. The African Plate and the Eurasian Plate are actually moving against each other, which pushes the earth upward and creates what is known as Mount Etna.

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Agriculture -

Aside from the potential dangers that the region faces because of Etna, the volcano also has some major benefits. Eruptions from Etna produce fertile nutrients that saturate the soil in the area, which has allowed extensive vineyards and orchards to thrive. 

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Death toll -

Interestingly, studies on Mount Etna’s history have suggested that very few people have actually died as a direct result of the volcano’s eruptions. Only 77 people have perished in recorded history, two of which occurredd in 1987.

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122 BCE -

The first destructive eruption recorded on Mount Etna has been called a “Vesuvian” eruption, since it shares similarities with the famous eruption of Mount Vesuvius that destroyed the city of Pompeii in 79 CE. The 122 BCE eruption almost destroyed the nearby city of Catania.

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122 BCE -

One of the earliest known records of the volcano’s eruption was written by the Roman poet Virgil in the Aeneid. Although Virgil lived a century after the 122 BCE eruption, it’s worth mentioning that his poem gives a first-hand description of Etna and its destructive power.

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1669 -

The eruption of Mount Etna in 1669 was one of the most catastrophic in the volcano’s history. It began on March 11 and caused massive destruction over the course of several months, particularly to the city of Catania and numerous surrounding villages.

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1669 -

The eruption released a substantial volume of lava, which flowed over 14 miles (22 km) and even reached the sea. Thousands of people were displaced from their homes, and the region’s economy was devastated for decades.

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1766 -

Etna's eruption in 1766 was one of many eruptions during the decade, all of which produced explosive activity that led to significant damage to agricultural lands. Lava flows destroyed entire areas of property, and many residents were displaced.

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1766 -

Although the 1766 eruption wasn’t as destructive as those that came before or after, the event still provided valuable insight into the volcano’s process. The eruption was closely observed and documented, which helped the surrounding communities better understand this formidable force.

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1928 -

For the first time since the volcano’s eruption in 1669, the lava from Etna caused major destruction to a population center in 1928. The nearby village of Mascali was almost completely decimated, with only a church and a few buildings left standing.

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1928 -

The 1928 eruption highlighted the urgent need for effective disaster preparedness to protect communities living in the shadow of active volcanoes like Mount Etna. Volcanic monitoring techniques were also improved, which has proved fruitful in the century since this eruption.

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1971 -

The eruption of 1971 wasn’t particularly disastrous, although it was an important event due to some of the destruction it caused. Lava from the volcano managed to bury the Etna Observatory which was built in the late 19th century for the purpose of volcanic research.

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1971 -

The 1971 eruption also created new vents and craters in the volcano, which permanently altered Etna’s landscape. Less significantly, a first-generation cable car was also destroyed on the mountain, but no loss of life was reported.

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1979 -

In August 1979, a series of earthquakes shook the Italian countryside, which were quickly followed by powerful explosions from Etna that spewed heavy ashfall and lava. The event was particularly dangerous and caused the tragic deaths of nine people, including tourists and scientists.

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1979 -

After the volcano’s major eruption subsided, several new fissures opened up across the landscape, the first of which was 0.6 miles (1 km) in length. Lava continued to flow from these fissures for weeks after.

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1981 -

In March 1981, the Italian town of Randazzo (located to the northwest of Etna) narrowly escaped destruction after an eruption that was eerily similar to the one that destroyed Mascali in 1928.

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1981 -

This eruption was notable for the unusual speed at which the lava flowed, which caught many by surprise. The area sustained significant economic loss, especially after lava covered most of the area’s railway lines.

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1983 -

Mount Etna’s eruption in 1983 is notable for the region’s experimental attempt to divert the lava flow for the first time. The experiment was conducted using bulldozers and dynamite, and even though it was only a partial success, the event was highly publicized.

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1983 -

Most of the damage during the 1983 eruption was confined to a nearby tourist and skiing center known as Rifugio Sapienza. Many of the resort’s facilities were directly in line with the volcano’s lava flow, which made destruction inevitable.

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1991–1993 -

Mount Etna experienced its longest eruption in recorded history between 1991 and 1993. Over a period of 473 days, the nearby town of Zafferana was threatened by constant lava flow.

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1991–1993 -

Following in the footsteps of the 1983 eruption, the Italian government initiated plans to divert the flow of lava away from the town of Zafferana, which proved successful after various explosions were conducted in 1992. In the end, only one building was destroyed.

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2002–2003 -

Between October 2002 and January 2003, a large eruption created a massive column of ash that could be seen from space. The spread of ash was so extreme that it fell as far away as Libya, 370 miles (600 km) south across the Mediterranean Sea.

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2002–2003 -

Many tourist stations and buildings were destroyed by the eruption, and seismic activity also caused the eastern side of the volcano to shift upward by almost seven feet (two meters).

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2017 -

On March 16, 2017, the weather around Mount Etna allowed snow to fall into the exposed crater of the volcano. The sudden contact between the cold snow and the extremely hot lava rapidly generated steam that caused a sudden explosion.

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2017 -

Several people (including tourists, journalists, and scientists) were injured because of the eruption. Although the event was mostly benign, it garnered much media attention due to the injuries sustained by those who were nearby.

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2024 -

The most recent eruption of Mount Etna began on August 14, canceling all flights to and from Catania Airport due to safety and visibility issues, virtually shutting down the airport on one of Italy's biggest public holidays, Ferragosto.

Sources: (EtnaWay) (Smithsonian Institute) (Trails of Sicily) (BBC) (WIRED)

See also: How to live near an active volcano

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