Stromboli Volcano

Updated: Mar 25, 2025 08:47 GMT - refresh

stratovolcano

Eolian Islands, Italy, 38.79°N / 15.21°E

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Summit height: 926 m

Current status: erupting (4 out of 5)

Last update: 19 Mar 2025 (Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report)

Activity Updates

Powerful strombolian eruption from Stromboli volcano

Stromboli, a small island north of Sicily, is one of the most active volcanoes in the world and famous for its normally small, but regular explosions throwing out glowing lava from several vents inside its summit crater. This activity has been going on for at least 2000 years, as long as there is written memory of the activity, which Stromboli lended its name to, the so-called strombolian activity.

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Typical eruption style: Small explosive (strombolian) eruptions, typically every 20-30 mins. Intermittently, ca. every 2-20 years, minor effusive eruptions (lava flows); on average 2-5 times per year larger explosions.
Stromboli volcano eruptions: Persistant (near-constant) activity since at least 2-3000 years. Most recent effusive (lava flow) eruptions from Dec. 2002-July 2003, March 2007, Aug-Oct 2014. Paroxysm 3 July 2019

Latest nearby earthquakes

Date and Time	Mag / Depth	Distance / Location
Mar 20, 10:20 pm (GMT +1)	2.7 283 km	28 km (17 mi) to the N	Tirreno Meridionale (MARE)	Info
Thursday, March 13, 2025 GMT (1 quake)
Mar 13, 03:46 am (Universal Time)	1.9 88 km	29 km (18 mi) to the E	Tirreno Meridionale (MARE)	Info

View recent quakes

Background

The N-most island of the Eolian Islands is famous for its spectacular incandescent nighttime explosions, that have long attracted visitors from all over the world and brought the volcano the nickname the "Lighthouse of the Mediterranean." Stromboli has even given its name to this kind of typical small explosions.
As long as there are historical records, Stromboli has been constantly active, which makes it almost unique among the volcanoes in the world. Most of its activity consists of brief and small bursts of glowing lava fragments to heights of 100-200 m above the craters. Occasionally, much stronger explosions or periods of more continuous activity can occur. The most violent eruptions during the past 100 years, in 1919, 1930 and on 5 April 2003, were large enough to take lives and or destroy property even at considerable range from the craters, for example inside the inhabited areas.
Apart from explosive activity, effusive eruptions with outflow of lava occur at irregular intervals ranging from a few years to decades. The most recent one began on 28 December 2002 and ended in July 2003.
Stromboli offers visitors a unique possibility to watch its eruptions. From the rim of an older crater one can stand only 150-250 m almost directly above the active craters,- a perfect viewing terrace. It should be mentioned that this is regarded as surprisingly safe as well: even though there is a small risk of being involved in a sudden, larger explosion (which happen infrequently a few times per year), and then being hit, injured or killed by an ejected bomb from the crater, the risk in terms of numbers is probably much smaller than many other risks in everyday situations. The number of accidents on Stromboli, when compared to the number of visitors at the crater over the years, is extremely small.
For hose who know and learn to love it, Stromboli is a magical place,- even not only for its volcano, but also for its unique charm, its beautiful beaches, the lush vegetation and its characteristic and unspoiled architecture.

Stromboli Volcano Photos

Powerful strombolian explosion from Sakurajima volcano, Japan, at 13:48 UTC on 27 Sep 2013 (22:48 local time) (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Fireworks at Stromboli volcano, Italy. The photo was taken in spring 2009 and shows an explosion from Stromboli's NE crater in the evening twilight. In the first half of ...

Ash plume from an explosion at Stromboli volcano (June 2012) (Photo: Marc Szlegat / www.vulkane.net)

Powerful strombolian eruption; some blocks become first visible when they leave the black ash cloud. (Anak Krakatau) (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

More photos

Significant volcanic eruptions: Stromboli volcano

In the past 10,000 years, Stromboli has had at least 22 confirmed volcanic eruptions, out of which 14 are documented by historical records, while the others can be inferred from geological evidence.

The table below lists all known eruptions (date in bold face) of Stromboli volcano in historic times and during the past 10,000 years. Updates on the most recent volcanic activity of Stromboli can be found on the news page of Stromboli volcano.

Date	Note	VEI	Deaths	Damage
1934 Feb 2 - ongoing	Summit craters and Sciara del Fuoco Historical obs./docs.	2
2022 Dec 4 (eruption 1934 Feb 2 - ongoing)	Tsunami recorded Historical obs./docs.	2			Info
2022 Dec 4: Ref #13386 states that the data from the cameras and instruments that detected phenomenon show that the tsunami was generated by the impact on the sea surface from a rather intense pyroclastic flow, similar to the one that occurred in early October (but more intense). (Note: unofficial translation) Ref #13390 states that on the afternoon of 4 December 2022, some volcanic events occurred involving the crater area of Stromboli and the Sciara del Fuoco and which have no direct relationship with the seismic event of magnitude ML 4.6 recorded at 8:12 local time with epicenter located southwest of the island of Vulcano. At 14:10 UTC a lava overflow and a concomitant intense explosive activity started both from the northern crater area; subsequently a more intense explosion occurred from the central-southern crater area and small collapses of material were observed along the upper part of the Sciara del Fuoco. As lava overflow and explosive activity continued, one (or more) pyroclastic flow(s) was formed probably triggered by the collapse of part of the crater rim of the North sector. At 15:19 UTC there was another pyroclastic flow which lasted several minutes and produced abundant quantities of ash which temporarily blocked the view of the summit area. The fine material was dispersed by light southwesterly winds. The pyroclastic flows generated, which spread along the Sciara del Fuoco, gave rise to a large amount of ash and, once they reached the coast, generated an anomaly in the sea level which was recorded by the MEDE observation system. (Note: unofficial translation) Cited references #2432 Venzke, E., R.W. Wunderman, L. McClelland, T. Simkin, J.F. Luhr, L. Siebert, and G. Mayberry (eds.) (2002-): Global Volcanism, 1968 to the Present. Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program Digital Information Series, GVP-4 (http://www.volcano.si.edu/reports/). #13386 Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV), Italy (2022): "Stromboli, 4 dicembre 2022: tsunami sì o tsunami no?" by Centro Allerta Tsuanmi, INGV. Published 05 December 2022. Link #13390 Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV), Italy (2022): Cosa è successo a Stromboli il 4 dicembre 2022. Published 05 December 2022. Link Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
2022 Oct 9 (eruption 1934 Feb 2 - ongoing)	Tsunami recorded Historical obs./docs.	2			Info
2022 Oct 9: At 9:22 today 9 October 2022 (7:22 UTC), a lava overflow in the Central sector of the crater area caused the collapse of a portion of the crater rim which gave rise to a pyroclastic flow on the Sciara del Fuoco . The flow reached the shoreline in about 26 seconds and impacted the water at a terminal velocity of about 50 m / s. (Note: unofficial translation) Cited references #2432 Venzke, E., R.W. Wunderman, L. McClelland, T. Simkin, J.F. Luhr, L. Siebert, and G. Mayberry (eds.) (2002-): Global Volcanism, 1968 to the Present. Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program Digital Information Series, GVP-4 (http://www.volcano.si.edu/reports/). #13357 Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV), Italy (2022): Un piccolo tsunami vulcanico a Stromboli. Published 09 October 2022. Link Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
2021 May 19 (eruption 1934 Feb 2 - ongoing)	Tsunami recorded Historical obs./docs.	2
2019 Aug 28 (eruption 1934 Feb 2 - ongoing)	Tsunami recorded Historical obs./docs.	2			Info
2019 Aug 28: It has been a paroxysmal explosion of less intensity compared to the one of last July 3, however the whole system is on alert and the volcano is constantly monitored", said the Head of Department Angelo Borrelli, who presided over the crisis unit gathered today, at 2 p.m., in the headquarters of Via Vitorchiano in Rome after the paroxysmal explosion occurred on the Stromboli volcano at 12.17 this morning. In close contact with the mayor of Lipari, Marco Giorgianni, the Department of Civil Protection of the Sicilian Region, the Prefecture of Messina, the Etnean Observatory of the INGV and other centres of expertise, the Fire Department, the Harbour Master's Office and the various operational structures of the civil protection system, including the Armed Forces and the Police Forces, the situation on the island of Stromboli was assessed just a few hours after the explosion, which also caused a 30-centimeter tsunami wave, constantly monitored. No damage to people or property has been detected as a result of the explosion, nor is there any leakage. The access to the volcano is forbidden by the Mayor since the explosions that took place last July. At the moment, the activities of monitoring the paths leading to the volcano keep going. Soon after the explosion, two canadairs have been sent to the island with the aim of extinguishing the fires caused by the explosion in the shortest possible time. The Harbour Master's Office provided some boats for the eventuality of a transfer of people. The island has also been banned from recreational boat traffic. Scheduled transfers, on the other hand, are guaranteed. Besides the activation of the whole system, the volunteers on the island are constantly informing the population about the situation and the preventive measures to adopt. The alarm sirens and all the measures provided for in the civil protection plan have also been activated shortly after the explosion. (all above from reference #12497) Cited references #12497 Protezione Civile (Italy) (2019): Stromboli eruption: the crisis unit of the Department of Civil Protection convened. Published 28 August 2019. Link Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
2019 Jul 3 (eruption 1934 Feb 2 - ongoing)	Tsunami recorded Historical obs./docs.	2	1		Info
2019 Jul 3: Stromboli was hit by a set of violent eruptions Wednesday and the Mayor of Lipari, the biggest of the Aeolian Islands off Sicily that Stromboli belongs too, said one person was killed. Mayor Marco Giorgianni told ANSA that the victim was tourist who had trekked up to the summit of the volcano. The eruptions caused scared beach tourists to take to the sea. Two new lava spouts are creeping down the volcano on the famed island. The volcano is also shooting out red-hot rocks called lapilli which are setting fore to cane breaks, local sources said. "A huge column of dense black smoke is coming out of the crater," an eye witness said. Another said "there was a powerful explosion. We heard a bang, then a column of smoke and lapilli fell onto Ginostra, and flames on the slopes of the volcano". Fires have broken out across the island, fire services and forest rangers said. A journalist and owner of a bazar at Ginsotra, Gianluca Giuffre, told ANSA "all the people who were in the village about a hundred tourists and residents, either holed up at home or threw themselves into the sea. (reference #12459) Two pyroclastic flows were produced as a result of the explosions; they traveled down the Sciara and across the water for about 1 km before collapsing into the sea (figure 150). A hiker from Sicily was killed in the eruption and a Brazilian friend who was with him was badly injured, according to a Sicilian news source, ANSA, and the New York Post. They were hit by flying ejecta while hiking in the Punta dei Corvi area, due W of the summit and slightly N of Ginostra, about 100 m above sea level according to INGV. Most of the ejecta from the explosion dispersed to the WSW of the summit. Fallout also ignited vegetation on the slopes which narrowly missed destroying structures in the town. (reference #12572) Cited references #2432 Venzke, E., R.W. Wunderman, L. McClelland, T. Simkin, J.F. Luhr, L. Siebert, and G. Mayberry (eds.) (2002-): Global Volcanism, 1968 to the Present. Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program Digital Information Series, GVP-4 (http://www.volcano.si.edu/reports/). #12459 ANSA (2019): Stromboli erupts, mayor says one person is dead. Published 03 July 2019. Link #12572 Global Volcanism Program (2019): Report on Stromboli (Italy) (Crafford, A.E., and Venzke, E., eds.). Bulletin of the Global Volcanism Network, 44:9. Smithsonian Institution. DOI:10.5479/si.GVP.BGVN201909-211040 #13741 Annunziato, A., Proietti, C., and Probst, P. (2019): Source Localization of the Stromboli Tsunami of 3 Jul 2019. Joint Research Centre European Commission. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
2002 Dec 30 (eruptive episode 2002 Dec 28 - Dec 30)	Tsunami recorded Historical obs./docs.	0		light	Info
2002 Dec 30: On 30 December at 1315 and 1322 two landslides suddenly formed along the Sciara del Fuoco. As they traveled down the volcano's flank they produced wet, fine ashfall (less than 0.1 mm in size) on the island's SE side. The first landslide had a volume of about 600,000 m3, the second about 5,000,000 m3, and they both reached the sea. Upon contact with the sea the landslides produced two tsunamis with waves that were several meters high. The tsunamis injured few people, and damaged buildings and boats in the villages of Stromboli and Ginostra. Large waves were reported as far away as the town of Milazzo, on Sicily's N coast, 60 km S of Stromboli... According to several news articles, volcanic activity at Stromboli on 30 December caused a landslide, which entered the sea and generated a tsunami. The articles stated that in the small village of Ginostra, waves injured six people, and damaged homes and boats. Residents and tourists were evacuated to nearby Sicily. (reference #2432) Cited references #2432 Venzke, E., R.W. Wunderman, L. McClelland, T. Simkin, J.F. Luhr, L. Siebert, and G. Mayberry (eds.) (2002-): Global Volcanism, 1968 to the Present. Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program Digital Information Series, GVP-4 (http://www.volcano.si.edu/reports/). Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
2001 Oct 20 (eruption 1934 Feb 2 - ongoing)	Historical obs./docs.	2	1		Info
2001 Oct 20: Ejecta from a stronger than normal explosion impacted a tourist group at Pizzo Sopra la Fossa. One seriously injured woman fell into a coma and died two days later after being hospitalized. (reference #9675) Cited references #9675 Siebert, Lee, Tom Simkin, Paul Kimberly (2010): Fatalities & Evacuations, Volcanoes of the World, Third Edition, Geoscience Press, Inc., University of California Press, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., p. 329-347. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1986 Jul 24 (eruptive episode 1985 Dec 06 - 1986 Jul 24)	Historical obs./docs.	2	1		Info
1986 Jul 24: A biologist was hit on the head by a falling block, dying instantly ~15 m from the W edge of crater rim. Cited references #1412 Simkin, Tom, and Lee Siebert with the collaboration of Russell Blong, Jonathan Dehn, Christopher Newhall, Roland Pool, and Thomas C. Stein (1994): Volcanoes of the World, Second Edition, A Regional Directory, Gazetteer, and Chronology of Volcanism During the Last 10,000 Years, Geoscience Press, Inc., Tucson, Arizona, in association with Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program, Washington, D.C., p. 164-176. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1954 Feb (eruption 1934 Feb 2 - ongoing)	Tsunami recorded Historical obs./docs.	0		light	Info
1954 Feb: From February - March, 1954, in the Tyrrhenian Sea, Lipari Island, an intensive eruption of the volcano of Stromboli occurred with a release of burning clouds and a discharge of lava and tsunami waves were generated. (reference #2130) Cited references #2130 Soloviev, Sergey L., Olga N. Solovieva, Chan N. Go, Khen S. Kim, and Nikolay A. Shchetnikov (2000): Tsunamis in the Mediterranean Sea 2000 B.C.-2000 A.D., Advances in Natural and Technological Hazards Research, Volume 13, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, Netherlands, 237 p. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1944 Aug 20 (eruption 1934 Feb 2 - ongoing)	Tsunami recorded Historical obs./docs.	2		light	Info
1944 Aug 20: 1944, August 20, 06:30 UTC. Aeolian Islands. Large explosion at Stromboli. Hot avalanche at the Forgia Vecchia. At Punta Lena the sea penetrates 300 m destroying one house. A lot of fish found on the beach (Cavallaro, ref #10535; Barberi, ref #10534). (reference #4139) After a period of intense activity, on August 20 at 07:30, a terrible explosion occurred with lava bombs and ash ejected up to great heights. A stream of lava entered the sea at Sciara del Fuoco, and concomitantly water waves were observed that nearly caused the shipwreck of a boat. A hot avalanche at the Forgia Vecchia, on the opposite side of the island, reached the coast where big waves were noted [...] No news, either about the eruption or about the tsunami, was found in contemporary newspapers, which is not strange, since in that world-war period, their attention was attracted by much more dramatic events. (reference #3078) Cited references #3078 Maramai, A. and L. Graziania (2005): Tsunamis in the Aeolian Islands (southern Italy): a review. Marine Geology, vol. 215, p. 11-21. DOI: 108.1016/j.margeo.2004.03.01 #4139 Tsunami Risk and Strategies for the European region (TRANSFER) project (2009): Northeast Atlantic and Mediterranean Region Tsunami Catalogue (NEAMTWS), retrieved February 2009 from http://www.ioc-tsunami.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=282&Itemid=1102 #10534 Barberi, F, M. Rosi, A. Sodi (1993): Volcanic hazard assessment at Stromboli based on review of historical data. Acta vulcanologica, journal of the National Volcanic Group of Italy, vol. 3, p. 173-187. #10535 Cavallaro, Carmelo (1957): L'attività dello Stromboli dal 1940 al 1953. Bollettino dell'Accademia Gioenia di Scienze Naturali, vol. 3, 525-532. In Italian. #10953 Siebert, Lee, Tom Simkin, Paul Kimberly (2010): Volcanoes of the World, Third Edition, Geoscience Press, Inc., University of California Press, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., 551 p. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1932 Jun 3	Historical obs./docs.	2
1910 May - 1931 Jul	Summit craters and Sciara del Fuoco Historical obs./docs.	3
1930 Sep 11 (eruption 1910 May - 1931 Jul)	Tsunami recorded Historical obs./docs.	3	6	moderate	Info
1930 Sep 11: 1930, September 11. Three people killed by pyroclastic flows and a fourth died after being scalded in the sea near the point where the flows reached the coast. One person died from a tsunami and another from a falling block. (reference #9675) 1930, September 11. A catastrophic eruption occurred on Stromboli on 11 September 1930. It was heralded by strong explosions and hot avalanches, and reached its climax with a lava flow along with a tsunami (Rittmann, 1931, ref #5043). Six people were killed and 20 injured; moreover, huge damage was reported at all the villages of the island (Abbruzzese, 1936, ref #10539). (reference #10187) 1930, September 11. Hot avalanche and blocks, bombs and scoria fallout on Ginostra, a block of 30 tons destroys the semaphore of Labronzo, up to 150 kg blocks fall on the village of Stromboli, tsunami, secondary lava flows, 6 deaths, 22 injured. (reference #10534) 1930, September 11. This is one the most impressive events occurred at Stromboli in the last 200 years: the eyewitnesses’ accounts are still rich in pathos and details. On September 11, at 10:00, a first tremendous explosion threw a large amount of volcanic material and lava bombs particularly on the western and southwestern side of the island. Hot avalanches and two secondary lava flows were originated. One of them stopped very close to the church of San Bartolo and the other entered the sea at Piscita`. At Ginostra, most roofs were destroyed. A second explosion, shortly after the first one, produced a dense rain of ash and tephra. Lava blocks hit the north-western and north-eastern side of the island, killing four persons and injuring several people at the villages of San Vincenzo and San Bartolo, where moreover many fires burnt the surrounding fields. The paroxysm lasted for about 20 min. A tsunami followed the explosion and was responsible of two more fatalities. (reference #3078) Note: death at Piscita due to the heat of the lava that had come in contact with the sea water, not attribute to tsunami in NCEI database. As a result only 1 tsunami death (at Punta Lena / San Vincenzo beach) and 5 volcano deaths. Cited references #1412 Simkin, Tom, and Lee Siebert with the collaboration of Russell Blong, Jonathan Dehn, Christopher Newhall, Roland Pool, and Thomas C. Stein (1994): Volcanoes of the World, Second Edition, A Regional Directory, Gazetteer, and Chronology of Volcanism During the Last 10,000 Years, Geoscience Press, Inc., Tucson, Arizona, in association with Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program, Washington, D.C., p. 164-176. #1686 Latter, J.H. (1981): Tsunamis of volcanic origin; summary of causes with particular reference to Krakatoa, 1883, Bulletin Volcanologique, Vol. 44, p. 467-490. #3078 Maramai, A. and L. Graziania (2005): Tsunamis in the Aeolian Islands (southern Italy): a review. Marine Geology, vol. 215, p. 11-21. DOI: 108.1016/j.margeo.2004.03.01 #5043 Rittmann, A. (1931): Der Ausbruch des Stromboli am 11 September 1930. Zeitschrift fur Vulkanologie, vol. 14, p. 47-77. #9675 Siebert, Lee, Tom Simkin, Paul Kimberly (2010): Fatalities & Evacuations, Volcanoes of the World, Third Edition, Geoscience Press, Inc., University of California Press, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., p. 329-347. #10187 Falsaperla, S., S. Graziani, G. Nunnari, S. Spampinato (1996): Automatic Classification Of Volcanic Earthquakes By Using Multi-Layered Neural Networks. Natural Hazards, vol. 13, p. 205-2228. #10534 Barberi, F, M. Rosi, A. Sodi (1993): Volcanic hazard assessment at Stromboli based on review of historical data. Acta vulcanologica, journal of the National Volcanic Group of Italy, vol. 3, p. 173-187. #10539 Abbruzzese, D. (1936): Sulla catastrofica esplosione dello Stromboli dell' 11 settembre 1930, Atti della Accademia Gioenia di Scienze Naturali di Catania 1, 1-13. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1919 May 22 (eruption 1910 May - 1931 Jul)	Tsunami recorded Historical obs./docs.	3	4	light	Info
1919 May 22: 1919, May 22. Blocks of 30-60 tons fell on houses in S. Vicenzo (8 destroyed) and Ginostra (2 destroyed); 4 killed, several injured. (reference #9675) 1919, May 22. From February 1919 an eruption of the Stromboli volcano occurred, that had its maximum on May 22 with a violent explosion. Most of the houses at Stromboli village destroyed and many others suffered severe damage. Also at Ginostra some houses collapsed. Three victims and many injured people. (reference #4139) 1919, May 22. Fire of vegetation, ash fallout up to Sicily, tsunami, 4 deaths, several injured, 20 houses destroyed. (reference #10534) Cited references #1412 Simkin, Tom, and Lee Siebert with the collaboration of Russell Blong, Jonathan Dehn, Christopher Newhall, Roland Pool, and Thomas C. Stein (1994): Volcanoes of the World, Second Edition, A Regional Directory, Gazetteer, and Chronology of Volcanism During the Last 10,000 Years, Geoscience Press, Inc., Tucson, Arizona, in association with Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program, Washington, D.C., p. 164-176. #4139 Tsunami Risk and Strategies for the European region (TRANSFER) project (2009): Northeast Atlantic and Mediterranean Region Tsunami Catalogue (NEAMTWS), retrieved February 2009 from http://www.ioc-tsunami.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=282&Itemid=1102 #9675 Siebert, Lee, Tom Simkin, Paul Kimberly (2010): Fatalities & Evacuations, Volcanoes of the World, Third Edition, Geoscience Press, Inc., University of California Press, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., p. 329-347. #10534 Barberi, F, M. Rosi, A. Sodi (1993): Volcanic hazard assessment at Stromboli based on review of historical data. Acta vulcanologica, journal of the National Volcanic Group of Italy, vol. 3, p. 173-187. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1916 Jul 3 (eruption 1910 May - 1931 Jul)	Tsunami recorded Historical obs./docs.	3		light	Info
1916 Jul 3: 1916, July 3. Tyrrhenian Sea, Lipari Islands. A very strong explosive eruption of the volcano of Stromboli was accompanied by an earthquake. The vertically directed shock, which lasted 3 s, shook the entire island. It was rather strong on the shore of Calabria between Amantea and Cape Vaticano, as well as on the other Lipari Islands (Salina, Lipari, Panarea, Vulcano). The approximately 10 m rise of water was noticed on the Island of Stromboli, especially in the direction toward S. Bartolo. (reference #2130) Cited references #2130 Soloviev, Sergey L., Olga N. Solovieva, Chan N. Go, Khen S. Kim, and Nikolay A. Shchetnikov (2000): Tsunamis in the Mediterranean Sea 2000 B.C.-2000 A.D., Advances in Natural and Technological Hazards Research, Volume 13, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, Netherlands, 237 p. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1890 - 1907 May 29	Historical obs./docs.	3
1857 - 1889 Jun 26	Summit craters and Sciara del Fuoco Historical obs./docs.	3
1879 Feb 4 (eruptive episode 1879 Feb 4)	Tsunami recorded Historical obs./docs.	2			Info
1879 Feb 4: 1879, February 4. VEI 2. (reference #9675) 1879, February 4-5. Ash fallout, pumice emission and tsunami. (reference #10534) Start Date: 1890, Stop Date: 1907 May 29. Dating Technique: Historical Records. Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI): 3. Lava Volume: 4.3 x 104 m³. Eruptive Characteristics: Central vent eruption, Explosive eruption, Lava flow(s), Damage (land, property, etc.). (reference #2432) Cited references #9675 Siebert, Lee, Tom Simkin, Paul Kimberly (2010): Fatalities & Evacuations, Volcanoes of the World, Third Edition, Geoscience Press, Inc., University of California Press, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., p. 329-347. #10534 Barberi, F, M. Rosi, A. Sodi (1993): Volcanic hazard assessment at Stromboli based on review of historical data. Acta vulcanologica, journal of the National Volcanic Group of Italy, vol. 3, p. 173-187. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1558 or before AD - 1857	Summit craters and Sciara del Fuoco Historical obs./docs.	3
950 ±50 y. AD	Summit area Historical obs./docs.	2
550 ±50 y. AD	Historical obs./docs.	3
250 ±50 y. AD	Historical obs./docs.	2
150 ±50 y. AD	Historical obs./docs.	2
50 ±50 y. AD	Historical obs./docs.	2

Remark:

Our list of volcanic eruptions closely follows the database of eruptions of the Smithsonian's Global Volcanism Project (GVP), the internationally most recognized data source for volcanic eruptions, but also includes significant eruptive episodes or related volcano events. "Volcanic eruptions" are usually to be understood as sequences of individual eruptive episodes that can follow each other, or even overlap (if several vents are involved), and can last many years, decades or even longer. For example, the current activity of Stromboli volcano is understood as a single eruption that has been ongoing since 1934.

Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Volcanic Eruptions Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K | Global Volcanism Project / Smithsonian Institution

Stromboli Volcano FAQ

+When was the last eruption of Stromboli volcano?

The last confirmed eruption of Stromboli began in 1934 and is continuing (as of March 2025).

+How often does Stromboli volcano erupt?

Since 350 BC, Stromboli volcano has had at least 14 historically documented eruptions. This means that it erupts on average every 170 years.
Many eruptions of Stromboli have lasted more than one year. In total, the volcano has been in eruption during 473 out of 2375 years until now. In other words, Stromboli has been active at least one in 5 years on average. Note that this value is likely an underestimate, because the known history of eruptions from Stromboli is likely incomplete, especially further back in time.

+How active is Stromboli volcano at present?

Stromboli volcano is extremely active: Since 1900, it has been near-continuously active, showing eruptive activity during 123 years out of 126 as of now. The latest eruption is still continuing at present.

+When was the largest eruption of Stromboli volcano?

The largest eruption of Stromboli volcano in historic times occurred during 1910 - 1931. It ranks as a "vulcanian" eruption with a magnitude 3 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale.

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9 days / 8 nights - Easy to Moderate
Price 2950 €

12-20 Oct 2024

3-11 May 2025

4-12 Oct 2025

Stromboli Volcano Maps

Below is a selection of maps showing the location and surroundings of the volcano at various resolutions based on aerial-imagery / terrain maps. Feel free to use them for non-commercial purposes on your blog or website as long as you credit them with a link back to this page (click to copy it).