A 29-year-old man from Kansas lost his life after being hit by lightning on Mount Etna, as reported by officials. The incident occurred on Sunday evening in a remote, open area.
Italian authorities have implemented closures on parts of Mount Etna, Europe’s largest volcano, due to a phase of significant activity. The recent volcanic activity led to the suspension of operations at the Catania airport for a large part of last week. However, it remains uncertain if the man was in the restricted zone.
The man, whose name has not been disclosed, was airlifted by helicopter from the Rocca Capra area at an altitude of approximately 4,600 feet. Despite rescue efforts, medical personnel later pronounced him dead.
Reports indicate that over recent decades, more fatalities on Mount Etna have been attributed to lightning strikes than volcanic eruptions. The last recorded deaths related to volcanic eruptions occurred in 1987.