A 5ft-high wave has wreaked devastation at popular holiday hotspots in Majorca and Menorca, flooding coastal roads, bars and terraces.
The “mini-tsunami” crashed into Ciutadella on the west coast of Menorca on Monday morning, leaving local beaches flooded, reports the Daily Mirror.
The meteotsunami - a tsunami-like wave of meteorological origin - also hit beaches in Majorca less than 40 miles from the Love Island villa.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
There have been no reports of injuries. The incident occurred in the early hours, when the streets and beaches were still largely empty.
The strong current “broke the ropes of a historic sailing boat used by the Majorca Island Council which had to be rescued by sailors and brought back to port as it drifted out to sea”, the Daily Mail reports.
Meteotsunamis, known as rissaga in Catalan Spanish, are caused by rapid changes in barometric pressure, resulting in the displacement of a body of water.
Witness Marti Fuster, who owns a fishing boat Majorca’s Port d’Alcudia, said “he had never seen a rissaga like that in the bay of Alcudia”.
Meteotsunamis have also been recorded in the UK. The first ever officially identified British meteotsunami hit the Cornish coastline in June 2011, according to The Sun.
“British researchers first became aware of the meteotsunami after people walking across St Michael’s Mount causeway suddenly found themselves standing in water,” the newspaper says.
-
Can Mike Johnson keep his job?Today's Big Question GOP women come after the House leader
-
A postapocalyptic trip to Sin City, a peek inside Taylor Swift’s “Eras” tour, and an explicit hockey romance in December TVthe week recommends This month’s new television releases include ‘Fallout,’ ‘Taylor Swift: The End Of An Era’ and ‘Heated Rivalry’
-
‘These accounts clearly are designed as a capitalist alternative’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Femicide: Italy’s newest crimeThe Explainer Landmark law to criminalise murder of a woman as an ‘act of hatred’ or ‘subjugation’ but critics say Italy is still deeply patriarchal
-
Brazil’s Bolsonaro behind bars after appeals run outSpeed Read He will serve 27 years in prison
-
Americans traveling abroad face renewed criticism in the Trump eraThe Explainer Some of Trump’s behavior has Americans being questioned
-
Nigeria confused by Trump invasion threatSpeed Read Trump has claimed the country is persecuting Christians
-
Daylight saving time: a Spanish controversyUnder the Radar Spain’s prime minister has called on the EU to remove biannual clock changes in Europe
-
Sanae Takaichi: Japan’s Iron Lady set to be the country’s first woman prime ministerIn the Spotlight Takaichi is a member of Japan’s conservative, nationalist Liberal Democratic Party
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of TaiwanIn the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Israel and the Gaza flotillaThe Explainer Activists fear loss of life after blaming Israel for drone attacks on ships
