Volcano · Italy
Etna
Europe's tallest active volcano, erupting in some form most years.
Status right now
No current reports
Etna is not in the latest Smithsonian weekly report or the GDACS volcano alerts. That usually means it is quiet, but not every change is reported straight away. For official alerts, follow the local volcano observatory.
Checked 5 Nov 2026, 01:30 UTC.
Key facts
- Country
- Italy
- Region
- Europe
- Type
- Stratovolcano
- Summit
- 3,357 m (11,014 ft)
- Coordinates
- 37.748° N, 14.999° E
- Smithsonian number
- 211060
What kind of volcano is it?
Etna is a stratovolcano. A stratovolcano is a tall, steep cone built from layers of lava, ash and rock from many eruptions. Its sticky magma traps gas, so eruptions are often explosive, with ash columns and fast-moving pyroclastic flows.
Eruption history
| Date | VEI | Deaths | Also |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Dec 2018 | 2 | – | earthquake |
| 15 Mar 2017 | – | – | – |
| 28 Oct 2002 | 3 | – | earthquake |
| 14 May 2001 | 3 | 1 | – |
| 26 Jul 2001 | 2 | – | – |
| 14 Dec 1991 | 2 | – | – |
| 17 Apr 1987 | 2 | 2 | – |
| 19 Dec 1985 | 1 | 1 | – |
| 16 Oct 1984 | 3 | 1 | – |
| 17 Mar 1981 | 2 | – | – |
| 12 Sept 1979 | 3 | 9 | – |
| 2 Aug 1929 | 1 | 2 | – |
| 8 Nov 1928 | 1 | 5 | – |
| 5 Sept 1868 | – | – | tsunami, earthquake |
| 25 Nov 1843 | 2 | 59 | – |
| 1 Nov 1832 | 2 | – | – |
| 9 Jan 1693 | – | – | earthquake |
| 19 Mar 1669 | 3 | 2 | – |
| 11 Mar 1669 | 3 | – | earthquake |
| 26 Mar 1536 | 3 | 1 | – |
| 15 Jul 1329 | 3 | – | – |
| 28 Jun 1329 | 3 | – | tsunami, earthquake |
| 4 Feb 1169 | – | 16,000 | tsunami, earthquake |
| 11 Feb 1169 | – | – | tsunami |
| 141 BCE | – | 40 | – |
25 significant eruptions near Etna in NOAA's Global Significant Volcanic Eruptions Database, which lists eruptions that caused deaths, damage or a tsunami, or were VEI 6 or larger. VEI is the Volcanic Explosivity Index, from 0 to 8.
Nearby volcanoes
- VulcanoItaly · 73 km
- StromboliItaly · 117 km
- VesuviusItaly · 345 km
- Campi FlegreiItaly · 350 km
- SantoriniGreece · 934 km
- TeideSpain (Tenerife) · 3,115 km
Not an official warning service. In an emergency, follow your local authorities.