Etna

November 25, 1843 Eruption of Etna

November 25, 1843 · VEI 2 · 59 deaths

Etna in Italy erupted on November 25, 1843 with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 2. The eruption killed 59 people.

Where it erupted

Etna, Italy, with its other significant eruptions.

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The eruption

Date
November 25, 1843
Volcano
Etna, stratovolcano
Country
Italy
Volcanic Explosivity Index
2, moderate (eruption column 1 to 5 km)
Killed by
Lava flows
Location
37.748° N, 14.999° E

The toll

Deaths
59
Injuries
Some (about 51 to 100)

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.

Near the end of the year, while many of the inhabitants of Bronte were watching the lava's progress, the flow front was suddenly blown out by an explosion (the lava may have entered a cistern). 36 were killed on the spot and 20 survived but a few hours. Romano and Sturiale report strong phreatic explosion on Nov. 24 with death and wounding of several persons. Branca and Carlo list 59 fatalities and a November 25 rather than November 24 date. (reference #9675)

Other significant eruptions of Etna

More

Every eruption in 1843The 1800sEtnaEarthquakes 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 44.