Majorca hit by ‘meteo-tsunami’ with mega wave swallowing streets in tourist area

The sea suddenly swallowed up the beach and became level with restaurants (Picture: Solarpix)

A popular seaside resort in Majorca has been hit by a ‘mini tsunami’ which flooded several streets.

Footage shows seawater pouring down streets in the port town of Puerto Alcudia following after Wednesday night’s freak wave swallowed up adjacent beaches.

Tourists were seen swerving out of the way to avoid getting soaked and potentially knocked over by the strong current.

The phenomenon, known as a meteotsunami, involves rapid changes in sea levels caused by atmospheric events such as storms and squalls.

Seawater could be seen pouring from the coast down the streets of Puerto Alcudia

Known locally as ‘rissagas’, they differ from tsunamis in that they are not caused by seismic activity and are therefore typically much smaller.

Nobody was injured and no significant damage was reported.

Locals are relatively used to the phenomena and have a warning system in place so meteorologists can declare when one is expected.

Tourists watched on as the water swept wider and wider

Spain’s state weather agency, Aemet, told local media: ‘Pressure variations affect sea level. If the pressure increases, the sea drops; if the pressure drops, the sea rises.

‘The main characteristic of these rises and falls is that they occur over very short periods.

‘In just 15 minutes the sea level can rise or fall very noticeably and then return to its normal state.’

Many countries in southern Europe are currently on high alert over a heatwave, with highs of up to 42C in places.

Five people died in wildfires in Turkey and widespread power cuts have been reported in Croatia, Montenegro, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Hotels in Sicily have reportedly told guests to cancel their trips due to an ongoing drought on the island.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.