US hiker dies after being struck by lightning on Mount Etna

An American tourist lost his life after being struck by lightning while hiking on Mount Etna, a volcano in Sicily, Italy. The 30-year-old man, whose name has not been disclosed by authorities, was hiking on the active volcano on Sunday when a thunderstorm erupted. Italian media report that he 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 airlifted to Cannizzaro Hospital in Catania but was pronounced dead upon arrival. Recent eruptions from Europe's most active volcano have caused disruptions in local air traffic and have also attracted many tourists. Authorities have imposed restrictions on access to certain areas of Etna, including the upper slopes with little shelter above the tree line, due to the heightened volcanic activity.

Italy's civil protection agency warns that the combination of volcanic activity and sudden weather changes at higher elevations can make conditions hazardous. Mount Etna attracts about 1.5 million visitors annually. The eruptions have caused ash clouds to cloud the skies over eastern Sicily, disrupting hundreds of flights at Catania International Airport over the past week. An aviation alert was downgraded from the highest warning level of red to orange on Saturday.