Advertisement

American tourist dies from lightning strike on Mount Etna

Miranda Mullings
Miranda Mullings - news@thelocal.it
American tourist dies from lightning strike on Mount Etna
Smoke rises from the crater of the Etna volcano. Photo by Giuseppe Distefano / AFP
Add The Local as a preferred source

An American man has died after being struck by lightning while hiking in a restricted area of Europe's tallest active volcano, according to media reports.

The 29-year-old tourist from Kansas died after being struck by lightning while hiking Mount Etna on Sunday,  the Associated Press reported. 

On Monday Italian firefighters told AP that the man was hiking in an area that had been closed due to risks posed by the volcano. The New York Times later reported that the man had been found alone in the Valle del Bove.

He was rescued by helicopter but later died in hospital.

Mount Etna has been erupting for nearly two weeks, and tourists have been climbing Etna to witness the volcanic activity, which last week prompted local guides to express safety concerns.

Volcanic clouds have closed or limited air traffic to Catania's airport for the majority of recent days.

More

Comments (1)

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at news@thelocal.it.
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

All comments 1
Sort by
KHague
Darwin strikes again.

See Also