US hiker dies after being struck by lightning on Mount Etna

An American hiker died after being struck by lightning while trekking on Mount Etna in Sicily, authorities confirmed. The 30‑year‑old, whose name has not been released by officials, was on the active volcano on Sunday when a thunderstorm developed, according to Italian media reports. Firefighters and emergency services recovered the man in cardiac arrest at approximately 20:00 local time (18:00 GMT) in a restricted zone that is sometimes used to reach the summit. He was airlifted by helicopter to Cannizzaro Hospital in Catania but was pronounced dead on arrival. A recent series of eruptions from Europe’s most active volcano has disrupted local air traffic while simultaneously attracting increased numbers of tourists. In response to heightened volcanic activity, authorities have restricted access to several areas of Etna, including the higher slopes where infrastructure is sparse above the tree line. Italy’s civil protection agency warned that the combination of volcanic phenomena and abrupt weather changes at elevation can create hazardous conditions.