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An unnamed 29-year-old American tourist from Kansas was killed by a lightning strike while hiking on Sicily's Mount Etna.

An American tourist from Kansas was killed by a lightning strike while hiking on Sicily's Mount Etna, Europe's largest volcano. The 29-year-old man was found in a state of cardiac arrest in the Rocca Capra area at an altitude of approximately 1,400 meters. He was rescued by helicopter and transported to Cannizzaro Hospital in Catania, where he was declared dead by medical officials. This incident occurred during a period of intense volcanic activity, which has recently forced the closure of the nearby Catania International Airport due to ash clouds. While authorities have restricted access to certain areas of the volcano's upper slopes to ensure safety, the hiker was reportedly in a restricted zone attempting to reach the summit. Officials noted that lightning strikes have caused more fatalities on Mount Etna over recent decades than actual volcanic eruptions, with the last eruption-related death occurring in 1987.

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