A 30‑year‑old American tourist died Sunday after being struck by lightning on Mount Etna. The U.S. hiker was hiking near the summit when a thunderstorm erupted over the active volcano.
Firefighters and emergency responders found him collapsed at about 20:00 local time, suffering cardiac arrest. He was air‑lifted to Catania’s Cannizzaro Hospital, but was pronounced dead en route.
Etna’s recent eruptions have disrupted air traffic and attracted large crowds. Authorities are restricting access to the upper slopes, where shelter is scarce, amid the volatile mix of volcanic activity and sudden weather.
Italy’s civil protection agency warns that volcano‑related hazards can combine with storm conditions to create sudden danger for hikers and visitors.
