A 29-year-old American tourist from Kansas has died after being struck by lightning on Sicily's Mount Etna, Europe's largest volcano. The man, who has not yet been named, was hiking the volcano following a period of intense activity.
Incident details
Firefighters in Italy said the man was found in an exposed area above the treeline on Etna at about 1,400 metres (almost 4,600 feet). Local reports claim he was discovered by firefighters and emergency services in a state of cardiac arrest at about 8pm local time. He was then flown by helicopter to a hospital in nearby Catania, where he was declared dead at 9.30pm.
Volcanic activity and closures
Authorities have closed several areas of the volcano's slope in response to its prolonged activity. It was unclear if the man was in one of these areas. Officials said that more people have died on Etna from lightning strikes over recent decades than from volcanic activity. The last eruption-related fatalities were in 1987.
Hazards and travel disruption
Authorities warn that a combination of volcanic activity and sudden weather changes higher up Mount Etna can cause hazardous conditions. Catania Airport was shut for much of last week over Etna's continued volcanic activity, with further disruption on Monday after another eruption. Several arriving flights were delayed, while one plane was diverted to Palermo in the north of the island. Incoming flights have been limited to just 10 planes per hour until noon local time on Tuesday, the airport announced earlier. Passengers are being urged to check the status of their flight with airlines before heading to the airport on Sicily's east coast.
Around 1.5 million people visit Mount Etna each year. It is one of the world's most active volcanoes and the most active stratovolcano.
