Lightning strike kills U.S. hiker on Italy’s volcano
In a dramatic turn of events, a 30‑year‑old American tourist was tragically killed after being struck by lightning while hiking on Mount Etna, Italy’s most active volcano.
The incident occurred on Sunday during a sudden thunderstorm. Firefighters found the hiker in cardiac arrest in a restricted area used by climbers aiming for the summit. He was flown to Cannizzaro Hospital but was declared dead on arrival.
Etna has seen a spate of eruptions in recent weeks, drawing crowds but also raising safety concerns. Authorities have limited access to higher slopes, warning that volcanic activity coupled with lightning and weather can be deadly.
Nearly 1.5 million visitors flock to the volcano each year, and the latest eruption has even disrupted hundreds of flights out of Catania International Airport because ash clouds spread across Eastern Sicily.
