Lightning death on Etna amid eruption disrupts flights

An American tourist, a 29-year-old man from Kansas, died after being struck by lightning while hiking on Mount Etna in Sicily in an area closed to visitors due to ongoing volcanic activity. Rescue teams reached him by helicopter and he died later at Cannizzaro Hospital in Catania; officials had tightened upper-slope restrictions amid heightened activity, contributing to disrupted air travel in the region. Etna, Europe’s tallest active volcano, has seen lava flows and ash emissions that have affected Catania Airport and drawn large crowds despite warnings to stay away from exposed areas. Italian authorities note that more fatalities on Etna have come from lightning strikes than from eruptions in recent decades, underscoring the danger of severe weather on the mountain. The volcanic activity has drawn broader weather-related risks in Italy, with simultaneous lightning incidents noted elsewhere on the day of the tragedy.