Sicily Tragedy: American Hiker Dies After Lightning Strike on Mount Etna

Sun Sep 06 2026 03:43:15 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

An American tourist was killed when struck by lightning while hiking on Italy’s active volcano, Etna, amid recent eruptions and weather changes.

A 30‑year‑old American tourist died when lightning struck him while hiking near the summit of Mount Etna, Sicily, on Sunday. The victim was in a restricted climbing zone when a thunderstorm erupted, causing a sudden lightning flash that left him in cardiac arrest. He was transported to Cannizzaro Hospital in Catania by helicopter but was declared dead upon arrival. Italy’s most active volcano has seen a flare‑up of eruptions in recent weeks, drawing a surge of visitors and disrupting air traffic in the region.

Mount Etna Lightning Strike Claims American Hiker

An American tourist has died after being struck by lightning while hiking on Mount Etna in Sicily. The 30‑year‑old, whose name has not yet been released by authorities, was on the active volcano on Sunday when a thunderstorm broke out, according to Italian media reports.

The man was found by firefighters and emergency services in a state of cardiac arrest at about 20:00 local time (18:00 GMT). He was flown by helicopter to Cannizzaro Hospital in Catania but was declared dead on arrival.

Mount Etna has experienced several eruptions over the past few weeks. The volcanic activity has disrupted air traffic and drawn many tourists to its slopes, with ash clouds clouding the sky over eastern Sicily.

Authorities are limiting access to higher summit areas, including the upper slopes beyond the tree line, citing dangerous combinations of volcanic activity and sudden weather changes. The Italian civil protection agency warns that such conditions can be hazardous.

About 1.5 million people visit Etna every year. Recent eruptions have prompted flight disruptions at Catania International Airport, with an aviation alert downgraded from red to orange on Saturday.