Tragedy struck a scenic hike on Sicily’s Mount Etna when an American tourist lost his life after being hit by lightning, Italian firefighting officials announced on Monday. The victim was exploring the slopes of Europe’s most formidable volcano, known for its recent volcanic activity.
The victim has been identified as a 29-year-old man from Kansas. Authorities have yet to release his name. Rescuers discovered him at an altitude of approximately 1,000 feet in the rugged Rocca Capra area.
Struck amid a sparse and open terrain on Sunday night, the man was airlifted from the scene but unfortunately succumbed to his injuries and was deemed dead by medical personnel.
Meanwhile, Mount Etna continues to captivate with its unstoppable lava flows cascading down its sides, a spectacle visible from Mareneve near Catania, Italy, on Thursday, August 13, 2026. In a somber turn of events, an American tourist died Sunday, struck by lightning while on this majestic volcano. (AP Photo/Salvatore Allegra)
In a related incident, the fiery spectacle and ash emissions from Mount Etna recently led to the temporary closure of Sicily’s largest airport, disrupting plans for many travelers during this peak vacation period.
Eruptive activity continues on Mount Etna, where lava flows descend the volcano’s slopes, as seen from Serracozzo near Catania, Italy, last week. (AP Photo/Simone Genovese)
Planes were forced to be re-routed to other airports on the island.
More people have died on Etna from lightning strikes over recent decades than from volcanic activity, officials said. The last eruption-related fatalities were 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)