A holiday hike on Mount Etna ended in tragedy after a 30-year-old American tourist was killed by lightning during a sudden thunderstorm.
The man was hiking on Sicily’s famous volcano on Sunday when the weather rapidly turned dangerous.
Emergency crews found him in cardiac arrest at around 20:00 local time in a restricted area near the summit.
He was airlifted to a hospital in Catania but was pronounced dead on arrival.
Etna is already a formidable environment. Now, with the volcano experiencing a series of eruptions, conditions can become even more unpredictable.
Italian authorities have tightened restrictions on access to the upper slopes, where shelter is scarce above the tree line.
The country’s civil protection agency warns that volcanic activity can create particularly hazardous conditions.
Eruption Raises Fresh Safety Concerns
Sudden weather changes can also create particularly hazardous conditions.
And yet, the spectacle continues to draw visitors.
About 1.5 million people visit Etna each year, with recent eruptions attracting even more tourists hoping to witness the volcano in action.
The activity has also disrupted flights, as volcanic ash clouded skies around eastern Sicily and affected hundreds of services at Catania airport.
Etna may offer breathtaking views, but this tragedy is a stark reminder: on an active volcano, beautiful skies can turn dangerous in an instant.
