| 1631 eruption of Mount Vesuvius | |
|---|---|
 Domenico Gargiulo - The eruption of the Vesuvius in 1631 | |
| Volcano | Mount Vesuvius |
| Start time | 16 December, 1631 |
| End time | 31 January, 1632? |
| Type | Plinian eruption |
| Location | Campania, Italy |
| VEI | 5 |
| Impact | At least 4,000 people were killed |
In December 1631, Mount Vesuvius in Italy erupted. The eruption began on 16 December 1631 and culminated the day after.[1] The Volcanic Explosivity Index was VEI-5, and it was a Plinian eruption that buried many villages under the resulting lava flows.[2] It is estimated that between 4,000 people were killed by the eruption, making it the highest death toll for a volcanic disaster in the Mediterranean in the last 1800 years.[citation needed] The 1631 eruption was considered to be of minor proportions regarding its eruptive magnitude and erupted volumes compared to the AD 79 eruption, but the damage was not.[citation needed] By the 1631 eruption, the summit of Mount Vesuvius had been reduced by 450m, making its total height lower than that of Mount Somma.[3]