Rifugio Sapienza seized following carbon monoxide poisoning on Mount Etna

The Catania Prosecutor's Office has launched an investigation following a carbon monoxide poisoning incident at the Rifugio Sapienza, a historic mountain refuge located on the slopes of Mount Etna.

At least nine guests were hospitalized after inhaling the odorless gas. Three individuals, including a young couple and a 55-year-old woman with pre-existing heart conditions, required hyperbaric oxygen therapy due to high carboxyhemoglobin levels exceeding 40 percent. Six other patients were treated for lower levels of exposure. None of the affected individuals are reported to be in life-threatening condition.

Authorities have placed the facility under preventive seizure to allow firefighters and investigators to conduct technical assessments. Investigators are currently examining the possibility of a gas leak within the structure. The refuge, located at an altitude of 1,910 meters near Nicolosi, serves as a primary hub for hikers and winter sports enthusiasts on the volcano.