Kansas Man Fatally Struck by Lightning During Mount Etna Hike
A Kansas man was fatally struck by lightning while hiking in a closed area of Mount Etna in Sicily.
Cleveland Akron, OH, August 17, 2026 —
A hiking excursion in Sicily tragically ended for a man from Kansas when he was struck and killed by lightning. The incident occurred within a restricted section of Mount Etna, an active volcano.
The man, whose name has not been released, was reportedly hiking in an area of Mount Etna that had been closed to the public. Details regarding the exact circumstances of the hike and why the individual was in the closed area were not immediately available.
Emergency services were alerted to the situation. However, the man succumbed to his injuries from the lightning strike before any assistance could reach him.
Mount Etna, located on the east coast of Sicily, is one of Europe’s most active and tallest volcanoes. Its volatile nature requires authorities to sometimes close off certain areas for safety reasons. The specific reasons for the area being closed at the time of the incident were not provided.
Further information regarding the identity of the deceased and the sequence of events leading up to the lightning strike was pending. Investigations into the incident are expected to follow.
Story summarized from the original created by The Associated Press on fox8.com, see more information here.
