A 29-year-old hiker from Kansas was killed by lightning while trekking on Sicily's Mount Etna, one of Europe's most active volcanoes, authorities reported Monday.
An American tourist has died after being struck by lightning while hiking on Mount Etna in Sicily. The 29-year-old man from Kansas was struck on Sunday evening at approximately 1,400 meters in the Rocca Capra area of the volcano. He was airlifted by helicopter and subsequently pronounced dead by medical staff, though authorities did not disclose his identity.
The incident occurred during a period of heightened volcanic activity at Etna, which has led authorities to restrict access to certain sections of the mountain. The volcano's recent increased activity forced the closure of nearby Catania airport for most of the previous week. However, officials have not clarified whether the victim was hiking in an officially closed area at the time of the strike.
According to Italian firefighters, lightning strikes have claimed more lives on Mount Etna in recent decades than the volcano's actual eruptions. The last fatalities directly attributed to volcanic activity occurred in 1987. The incident underscores the hazards posed by electrical storms in exposed high-altitude locations, particularly on active volcanic peaks where weather conditions can change rapidly.
