Mount Etna lightning strike kills US tourist after he 'walked into restricted area to see volcano's lava flow during storm'

Published: 11:33, 17 August 2026 | Updated: 11:46, 17 August 2026 A tourist has been killed after he was struck by lightning during a hike up to see Sicily's Mount Etna. The American man, 30, was hit while hiking on the volcano while a yellow weather warning was in place for severe thunderstorms in the Catania area. He died on Sunday after walking into a restricted area to see the volcano's lava flow up close, according to Italian news outlet Quotidiano Nazionale. A rescue helicopter from the island's fire department raced to save him at around 8pm, but he was already dead by the time he made it to hospital.  The volcano, located on the east coast of Sicily, recently ejected a huge cloud of volcanic ash and has been erupting since July. Visitors have been urged to stay at least 200 metres from the lava. Dramatic videos and images show Europe's highest and most active volcano spewing piles of ash into the sky over Sicily. Mount Etna's ongoing volcanic activity has forced hundreds of flights to be cancelled or rerouted over the past week.  A tourist was killed after he was struck by lightning during a hike up to see Sicily's Mount Etna The American man, 30, was battling a yellow weather warning for severe thunderstorms in the Catania area Catania-Fontanarossa Airport's website said: 'Due to Mount Etna’s eruptive activity, the closure of Sector B3 has been extended, resulting in the suspension of arrivals and departures until 4pm tomorrow, August 13.' 'Passengers are advised to check the ​status of their flights with their airlines. Further updates will follow ⁠in the coming hours,' SAC said in a statement. It comes as a record-breaking heatwave has been baking Europe and large parts of the continent are dealing with wildfires.  Sicily is burning with raging wildfires as Europe has suffered a 47C blowtorch heatwave. The island has battled 40 separate blazes, including a massive fire that tore through the commune of Bivona, threatening homes and a marble processing plant in the Contrada Savarini area. Elsewhere in the Agrigento province, wildfires erupted in Favara, Sciacca, Cammarata and near the Lake Arancio in Sambuca di Sicilia, as firefighters, forest rangers and civil defence officials battled the flames. Three Canadair helicopters and dozens of firefighting teams were deployed to protect homes in Castronovo di Sicilia of the Palermo province, where the flames spread into the town. Some 150 hectares of land have been scorched by the inferno, while 10 households made up of 200 inhabitants have been evacuated. Experts have warned that parts of southern Europe could exceed 50C this summer as millions of British holidaymakers prepare for their getaways.