Katla

1262 Eruption of Katla

1262 · VEI 3 · Deaths: few

Katla in Iceland erupted in 1262 with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 3.

Where it erupted

Katla, Iceland, with its other significant eruptions.

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The eruption

Date
1262
Volcano
Katla, subglacial volcano
Country
Iceland
Volcanic Explosivity Index
3, moderate to large (eruption column 3 to 15 km)
Killed by
Floods (and glacial outburst floods)
Location
63.633° N, 19.083° W

The toll

Deaths
Few (about 1 to 50)

Where the literature gives no number, NCEI records a description on a scale of 1 to 4, printed here in its words. Damage is in millions of US dollars of the year of the event, not adjusted for inflation.

What the record says

NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.

Probably some casualties.

Other significant eruptions of Katla

More

Every eruption in 1262The 1200sKatlaEarthquakes near Katla

Sources

Volcanoes and significant eruptions from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. Volcano numbers are the Smithsonian Institution’s Global Volcanism Program’s. NCEI event 4225.