March 11, 1669 Eruption of Etna
Etna in Italy erupted on March 11, 1669 with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 3.
Where it erupted
Etna, Italy, with its other significant eruptions.
The eruption
- Date
- March 11, 1669
- Volcano
- Etna, stratovolcano
- Country
- Italy
- Volcanic Explosivity Index
- 3, moderate to large (eruption column 3 to 15 km)
- Earthquake
- Yes: the earthquake with it
- Location
- 37.748° N, 14.999° E
The toll
- Deaths
- Many (about 101 to 1,000)
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.
Coleman indicates that 20,000 perished in this eruption, but this seems unlikely. Neither Rittmann nor Romano & Sturiale mention deaths in their accounts. Detailed report by Winchilsea mentions only a few deaths as a result of murders and executions amidst widespread destruction of towns and croplands. The Coleman account is perhaps confused with a 1693 tectonic earthquake that killed 60,000-100,000 in 50 towns in Sicily and 18,000 in Catania. Rodwell reported a 1693 eruption, but Sapper and Tanguy consider the eruption doubtful, and most others ignore it. (reference #9675)
Other significant eruptions of Etna
- December 26, 2018
- March 15, 2017
- October 28, 2002
- July 26, 2001
- May 14, 2001
- December 14, 1991
- April 17, 1987
- December 19, 1985
- October 16, 1984
- March 17, 1981
- September 12, 1979
- August 2, 1929
- November 8, 1928
- September 5, 1868
- November 25, 1843
- November 1, 1832
- January 9, 1693
- March 19, 1669
- March 26, 1536
- July 15, 1329
- June 28, 1329
- February 11, 1169
- February 4, 1169
- 141 BC
More
Every eruption in 1669The 1600sEtnaEarthquakes near EtnaThis day in weather history
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 1350.