Navy base issues rules for safety on erupting Mount Etna following hiker’s storm death

NAPLES, Italy — A Navy base on the island of Sicily has issued safety requirements for personnel who may want to hike Europe’s most active volcano, which has been erupting for about three weeks.

The guidelines for the Naval Air Station Sigonella community were issued Tuesday, just days after an American tourist was fatally struck by lightning while in a restricted section of the roughly 11,000-foot-tall Mount Etna.

NAS Sigonella is located about 31 miles south of the volcano, which continues to spew ash and lava during its most recent eruptive phase.

Recreational hiking above 6,500 feet on Etna is prohibited for base personnel unless they are part of a tour led by Morale, Welfare and Recreation guides or certified alpine or volcanological guides, NAS Sigonella said in a Facebook statement Tuesday.

Hikers also must follow Italian government protection bans limiting or restricting access to specific sections of the mountain, according to the statement.

In addition, “personnel must check weather forecast prior to visiting Mount Etna, follow the buddy-rule, and avoid if there is a forecast for storms, lightning, or severe weather advisory in the Catania province,” the base said.

Mount Etna can be seen behind Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy, in this undated photo. Hikers hoping to see the volcano during its ongoing eruption must follow safety requirements recently issued by the base. (Zachary Dalton/U.S. Navy)

A 29-year-old American tourist on the mountain died Sunday after being hit by lightning during a storm, The New York Times reported Monday.

The man was found in serious condition in a restricted section of the mountain sometimes used to get closer to the summit, according to the report.

It did not appear Thursday that the man had any connection to the U.S. military.

Operations at the installation include Navy P-8 Poseidon patrol and reconnaissance aircraft, an MQ-4C Triton drone detachment and a Space Force contingent.

The base is the Navy’s second-largest security command, behind only Naval Support Activity Bahrain in the Middle East, according to the service.

In a separate statement Wednesday, NAS Sigonella said it had issued the guidance to “increase awareness and vigilance in adhering to safety standards.”

Etna’s current eruption has disrupted hundreds of flights at the nearby Catania airport and deposited ash and debris over the region, including the base.

NAS Sigonella remains fully operational and officials are monitoring the eruption, including an ash plume rising 19,685 feet, the base said.

Protocols are in place to preserve flight safety, and sweeper trucks were routinely clearing ash deposits from runways, hangars and flight lines, according to the statement.

Etna’s ongoing eruption has drawn tourists eager to get a glimpse of the volcano. The local civil protection agency has limited access to the mountain, warning that volcanic activity and weather can create dangerous conditions.

The base has warned community members to expect travel delays at Catania airport and urged drivers to reduce speed on roads that could be slick with ash.

The advisory also cautioned people against wiping ash from car windshields or windows with a dry cloth or shirt, as doing so could scratch the glass. Instead, windshields and wipers should be rinsed with water.