A 30‑year‑old U.S. tourist was killed on Sunday after a lightning strike on Mount Etna, Italy’s most active volcano. The incident occurred during a sudden thunderstorm while the man was hiking in a restricted area that is often used to approach the summit.
Emergency crews found the hiker in cardiac arrest around 20:00 local time (18:00 GMT). He was flown by helicopter to Cannizzaro Hospital in Catania, but authorities declared him dead on arrival.
Mount Etna has recently experienced a series of eruptions, which heightened safety concerns for visitors. The Italian civil protection agency has restricted access to the upper slopes—where there is little shelter—due to the combined threat of volcanic activity and sudden weather changes.
The volcano’s ash plume has also disrupted air traffic, with hundreds of flights at Catania International Airport cancelled in the past week. An aviation alert was downgraded from red to orange only last Saturday.
Over a million people visit Etna each year, drawn by its frequent eruptions and the dramatic views it offers. The latest incident serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable dangers posed by nature’s most active volcanic regions.
