American hiker from Kansas killed by lightning on Mount Etna while climbing in restricted area
A 29-year-old American hiker from Kansas died after being struck by lightning on Mount Etna Sunday evening while climbing through a restricted area closed to the public, as Italy's fifth heatwave gave way to violent storms across the country.
Lightning strike on the volcano
A 29-year-old American man from Kansas died after being struck by lightning on Sunday evening while hiking on Mount Etna, Europe's largest active volcano, located on the Italian island of Sicily. According to the local fire department, rescuers found the man in serious condition on the eastern side of the volcano in an area known as Valle del Bove that was closed to the public. The valley had been rocked by unusually heavy volcanic activity in recent days, prompting local authorities to close parts of the area. Firefighters transported him by helicopter to Cannizzaro Hospital in Catania, the nearest major city. He arrived in a state of cardiac arrest and was declared dead about an hour later, hospital officials said in a statement. The hospital declined to identify the man until its officials had contacted his next of kin.
- Heavy volcanic activity in Valle del Bove prompts local authorities to close parts of the area
- American hiker found in serious condition in restricted Valle del Bove after lightning strike during thunderstorm
- Hiker transported by helicopter to Cannizzaro Hospital in Catania, arrives in cardiac arrest
- Hiker declared dead about an hour after arrival at hospital
- National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology reports new vent opened in Valle del Bove, fresh lava flow overnight
- Catania airport imposes limits on arriving flights until Tuesday afternoon due to ash
Ongoing volcanic activity and airport disruption
Mount Etna has been erupting for days, spewing lava and ash and drawing large numbers of sightseers to the region. The volcano is already a tourist magnet, and the volcanic activity has increased the influx beyond normal levels. Mountain guides can barely handle the volume of requests, according to media reports. On Monday, Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology reported that another volcanic vent had opened in Valle del Bove, causing fresh lava flow overnight. The international airport in Catania said early Monday that it was imposing limits on the number of flights arriving until Tuesday afternoon as a result of the volume of ash being released into the atmosphere. Seismic activity at the volcano, which is about 48 kilometers from the airport, had forced hundreds of cancellations and delays for more than 10 days.
Lightning deadlier than eruptions on Etna
Officials said that more people have died on Etna from lightning strikes over recent decades than from volcanic activity. The last eruption-related fatalities on Europe's most active volcano were in 1987. According to Italian health authorities, lightning strikes in the country are particularly common in July and August. A recent study found that some 89 people were killed by lightning strikes in Italy from 2001 to 2020. During thunderstorms, people in elevated areas such as mountain ridges and summits can be particularly exposed to lightning, according to the National Weather Service. The U.S. consulate in Naples, which has jurisdiction over the region of Sicily, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Storms across Italy bring further incidents
Italy's fifth brutal heatwave is giving way to storms across much of the country, creating hazardous conditions for tourists and hikers. In Alto Adige, on Piz Starlex near the border between Italy and Switzerland, another hiker was found dead by a mountain rescue team. He is believed to have also been struck by lightning during his descent. Four Spanish tourists who were stranded Sunday on Mount Colmegnone, in the Laglio area near Como, due to a violent thunderstorm were rescued. The rescue operations were particularly difficult due to strong winds and rain.
