Thousands of years ago , the eastern flank of the mountain experienced a catastrophic collapse , generating an enormous landslide in an event similar to that seen in the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens . The landslide left a large depression in the side of the volcano , known as ' Valle del Bove ' ( Valley of the Ox ) . Research published in 2006 suggested this occurred around 8,000 years ago , and caused a huge tsunami , which left its mark in several places in the eastern Mediterranean . It may have been the reason the settlement of Atlit Yam ( Israel ) , now below sea level , was suddenly abandoned around that time
1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens
1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens
Mount Etna