Mount Etna (Italy)

Accidents and Safety Deaths (Fatalities)Hikes and Hiking internal-eafs Lightning Mount Etna (Italy)

August 17, 2026 Leo Sands and Josephine de La Bruyère

American Hiker Dies After Lightning Strike on Mount Etna in Italy

Rescuers found a 29-year-old man in serious condition on the volcano’s eastern slope on Sunday. He was later pronounced dead at a hospital in Catania.

Hundreds of Flights Canceled in Sicily as Mount Etna Erupts

Etna erupts often, but it usually doesn’t release this much ash, an expert said. Tens of thousands of travelers’ plans have been disrupted in the past week.