US Tourist Dies After Lightning Strike on Sicily's Mount Etna

A US tourist died after being struck by lightning while hiking Sicily’s Mount Etna on Sunday evening.

The individual, identified as either 29 or 30 years of age, died of cardiac arrest despite resuscitation attempts by a helicopter rescue team. The hiker was thought to be alone and reportedly climbing through a prohibited area on Etna's eastern slope, which is currently experiencing extraordinary volcanic activity. Authorities indicate the individual may have ignored closure markings to ascend toward a new crater when a storm broke out.

Rescue crews arrived around 8 p.m. local time (18:00 GMT) and extracted the hiker from the Rocca Capra area of the mountain, approximately 1,400 meters above sea level. The tourist was pronounced dead upon arrival at Cannizzaro Hospital in Catania. An investigation into the incident is ongoing. Mount Etna, Europe's tallest active volcano at 3,324 meters, attracts throngs of tourists, particularly due to its recent dramatic lava fountains and smoke.

The volcano has been erupting for nearly two weeks, causing volcanic clouds that have closed or limited air traffic to Catania's airport for most of recent days. The aviation alert for the region was downgraded on Saturday from the highest warning level of red to orange. Italy's civil protection agency has repeatedly warned of the dangers posed by Etna's activity, noting that a combination of volcanic activity and sudden weather changes higher up the mountain can create hazardous conditions.

Authorities have been limiting access to more areas of Etna, including the upper slopes where there is little shelter above the tree line, due to the increased volcanic activity. Approximately 1.5 million people visit Mount Etna annually.