US Hiker Dies in Lightning Strike on Etna's Closed Slopes

A 29-year-old American tourist died on Sunday after being struck by lightning while hiking on Mount Etna, Sicily's active volcano, according to multiple international reports. The man was found in serious condition on the volcano's eastern slope and later pronounced dead at a hospital in Catania, the New York Times reported.

The incident occurred in a restricted area of the volcano, which had been closed to visitors due to recent volcanic activity, the Guardian reported. Italian firefighters and rescuers responded to the emergency as a thunderstorm developed over the peak, according to the BBC.

The death comes as Etna has been erupting for weeks, sending lava and ash plumes into the sky and forcing the closure of Catania airport during the peak summer travel season, Deutsche Welle reported. Despite the warnings, tourists have continued to flock to the volcano to witness the spectacle, according to Euronews.