In brief
A U.S. tourist was struck by lightning during a hike on Mount Etna, Sicily, and later pronounced dead after rescue attempts. The incident occurred as a thunderstorm struck an area near the volcano’s summit, an event that added to the dangerous conditions imposed by frequent eruptions. Authorities have restricted access to higher slopes to protect hikers from volcanic activity and sudden weather changes. The episode underscores the combined risks of a volatile volcano and unpredictable weather for trekkers.
On Sunday a 30‑year‑old American tourist drowned in the emergency‑bound after a lightning strike while hiking on Mount Etna, Sicily. According to authorities, he was discovered in cardiac arrest by firefighters near a restricted area used by climbers seeking a closer view of the summit. He was flown via helicopter to Cannizzaro Hospital in Catania but could not be revived.
Mount Etna, Europe’s most active volcano, has been erupting in waves over the past weeks and has attracted about 1.5 million visitors annually. The combination of volcanic ash clouds and sudden weather changes creates dangerous conditions for hikers, especially for those on the upper slopes where shelter is scarce. The Italian civil‑protection agency has tightened access to several higher areas in response to the heightened volcanic activity.
Recent eruptions have also disrupted air traffic, forcing a downgrade of an aviation alert from red to orange, and have thrown ash into the skies over eastern Sicily, affecting over a hundred flights at Catania International Airport the previous week.
