7Mount Etna’s biggest eruption killed 20,000 people

A big eruption occurred on Mount Etna in 1669, and the inhabitants of Catania fell victim to the lava, while inhabitants of the slopes of the mountain died of asphyxiation from noxious fumes emitted by it.

The lava began to head to Catania which had about 20,000 inhabitants. Rather than evacuate, some 50 men thought they could divert the lava away from Catania to Paterno town whose inhabitants naturally fought back. This went on for weeks after which the lava spread into Catania killing about 17,000 thousand residents who stay put.

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