US hiker dies after being struck by lightning on Mount Etna
The 30-year-old was on the active volcano when a thunderstorm developed, local media report.
An American tourist has tragically lost their life after being struck by lightning while hiking on Mount Etna in Sicily. The 30-year-old hiker, whose name has not been released by authorities, was on the active volcano on Sunday when a thunderstorm erupted. Italian media outlets report that the man was discovered by firefighters and emergency services in a state of cardiac arrest around 20:00 local time (18:00 GMT) in a restricted area often used to get closer to the summit.
He was transported by helicopter to Cannizzaro Hospital in Catania but was pronounced dead upon arrival.
Mount Etna, Europe's most active volcano, has recently experienced several eruptions, causing disruptions to local air traffic and attracting a large number of tourists. Authorities have been implementing restrictions on access to certain areas of Etna, particularly the upper slopes with limited shelter above the tree line, due to the heightened volcanic activity.
The Italian civil protection agency has issued a warning, stating that the combination of volcanic activity and sudden weather changes at higher elevations can create hazardous conditions.
The Etna volcano attracts approximately 1.5 million visitors annually. Recently, ash from the eruptions has obscured the skies over eastern Sicily, disrupting hundreds of flights at Catania International Airport. The aviation alert was downgraded on Saturday from the highest warning level, red, to orange.
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