An American tourist has died after being struck by lightning while hiking on Sicily’s Mount Etna, Europe’s largest volcano, which has recently shown renewed activity, Italian firefighters said Monday.
The victim, a 29-year-old man from Kansas whose name had not been made public at the time of reporting, was located at an altitude of about 1,000 feet in the Rocca Capra area.
Authorities said he was hit Sunday night in a barren, exposed stretch of terrain and brought out by helicopter. Medical officials later pronounced him dead.
Lava flows down the slopes of Mount Etna during ongoing eruptive activity, seen from Mareneve near Catania, Italy, on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026. An American tourist died Sunday after being struck by lightning while hiking on the volcano. (AP Photo/Salvatore Allegra)
The deadly incident came days after ash from Etna forced the closure of Sicily’s largest airport, disrupting summer travel during one of the island’s busiest tourism periods.
Mount Etna continues to erupt as lava moves down the volcano’s slopes, seen from Serracozzo near Catania, Italy, last week. (AP Photo/Simone Genovese)
Flights had to be diverted to other airports across the island because of the ash-related disruption.
Officials said lightning strikes have killed more people on Etna in recent decades than volcanic activity. The most recent deaths linked directly to an eruption occurred in 1987.
Mount Etna, where lava flows descend on the slopes of the volcano, as seen from Serracozzo near Catania, Italy, early Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Simone Genovese)
