Small to moderate explosive eruptions occur near the summit less often. Etna is not known for any eruptions that caused great loss of life. I could not find information on the number and cause of fatalities during most of these eruptions. The general accept explanation for volcanism at Mt. Etna, Vulcano, and Stromboli is the subduction of part of the northward- moving African Plate beneath the Eurasian Plate. Subduction may be in a late stage of evolution or may have ceased.
Mt. Etna is unusual because it is adjacent to but just outside of the subduction zone.
It has been suggested that material associated with the subduction zone migrates into the lithosphere adjacent to the Aeolian arc. Lava from Etna shares a few chemical similarities to hot spot volcanoes. However, these may result from modification at the source or during ascent of the magma.