An American tourist was fatally struck by lightning while on Mount Etna in Italy, where ongoing eruptions over recent days have triggered thunderstorms at the summit.
Italian media reported on Monday, 17 Aug 2026, that a 30-year-old American male tourist, whose name has not been disclosed, died after being struck by lightning on Mount Etna in Sicily, Italy, on the previous Sunday (16 Aug) during a thunderstorm.
Reports said firefighters and emergency responders found the man in cardiac arrest around 8:00 p.m. local time on Sunday in a restricted area sometimes used as a route closer to the summit. He was airlifted by helicopter to Cannizzaro Hospital in Catania but was pronounced dead upon arrival.
Mount Etna, Europe's most active volcano, has erupted continuously over the past several days, covering the eastern Sicily sky with ash and disrupting hundreds of flights at Catania International Airport.
At the same time, the volcano's activity draws many tourists eager to witness the phenomena, with approximately 1.5 million visitors annually.
Authorities have increasingly restricted access to various parts of Mount Etna, including upper slopes above the forest boundary, where there is little shelter, due to the volcano's heightened activity.
Italy's civil protection agency warned that the combination of volcanic activity and rapidly changing atmospheric pressure or weather at high altitude can create hazardous conditions, including thunderstorms.
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