In brief
An American hiker, 30, was tragically struck by lightning during a thunderstorm on a restricted area near the summit of Mount Etna in Sicily. The incident came amid a series of eruptions that have disrupted air traffic and prompted the Italian Civil Protection to limit access to upper slopes. The victim was found in cardiac arrest and flown to hospital but was declared dead upon arrival. The event underscores the combined hazards of volcanic activity and sudden weather changes for tourists and hikers, at a site that attracts ~1.5 million visitors annually.
In Sicily, a 30‑year‑old American tourist was killed when a lightning strike pierced a thunderstorm raging on the active Mount Etna on Sunday. The victim was discovered by firefighters in a restricted zone often used to get closer to the summit, in cardiac arrest at around 20:00 local time (18:00 GMT). He was air‑lifted to Cannizzaro Hospital in Catania but the life‑saving efforts ended in death upon arrival.
Mount Etna, Europe's most frequent volcano, has erupted several times in recent weeks. The eruptions have caused ash plumes to cloud eastern Sicily and have disrupted flights at Catania International Airport, even prompting air‑traffic authorities to downgrade a red alert to orange status.
Italian civil protection agencies now restrict access to more areas of the volcano, especially the high‑altitude upper slopes where shelters are scarce. Authorities warn that the combination of volcanic activity and sudden weather changes can create hazardous conditions for trekkers.
Launched by Reuters and echoed by local media, the tragedy underscores growing tourist interest despite ongoing risks. Around 1.5 million people visit Etna each year, drawn by its dramatic landscapes even as it remains an active geological threat.
For visual context, the eruption frequently draws crowds, as is shown in the following photo of lava flowing down the volcano’s slopes in August 2026.
