WAVE DAMAGE
Majorca and Menorca tsunami 2018 – where did the mini-tsunami hit and is it safe to travel to the islands?
The Spanish holiday island was struck by a 5ft wave in the early hours of Tuesday morning
A MINI-TSUNAMI struck the Spanish holiday island of Menorca, with waves flooding into bars and beachside streets.
The massive wave smashed into the port city of Ciutadella on the west coast of Menorca in the early hours of July 17, 2018. Here’s more on what’s happening.
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Where was the mini-tsunami?
The west coast of Menorca was left heavily damaged after tsunami-like waves measuring 5ft smashed into the Spanish island in the early hours on Tuesday, July 17.
Nearby beaches were also flooded, as were bars and roads close by in the port city of Ciutadella as the “meteotsunami” struck.
Holiday resorts in neighbouring island Majorca were also affected, with seawater flooding bars and terraces by the coast in the municipality of Andratx.
Boat owners in the resort on Majorca’s south west coast were filmed trying to protect their vessels.
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.
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Did anybody die in the tsunami?
A dad of two was swept to his death by a huge wave in Majorca.
The German was said to have been dragged into the sea in front of his wife and children.
His son and daughter were also pulled into the water.
claims the mum was able to pull her daughter to safety, while nearby canoeists rescued the son before dragging the lifeless dad on to the boat.
Is it safe to travel to Majorca and Menorca?
At present, there are no travel advisories against travelling to any Spanish islands.
This is because meteotsunamis are a freak weather phenomenon.
The large, tsunami-like waves are triggered by disturbances in air pressure caused by fast-moving weather events, like thunderstorms.
While uncommon, the western Mediterranean is particularly susceptible to meteotsunamis, mainly due to the presence of long, narrow bays.
The tsunami-like waves have characteristics similar to earthquake-generated tsunamis but are caused by air pressure disturbances often associated with fast moving weather systems.
MORE WEATHER NEWS
Has the UK ever had a meteotsunami?
Meteotsunamis have also been recorded in the United Kingdom.
The first ever officially identified British meteotsunami hit the Cornish coastline in June 2011.
British researchers first became aware of the meteotsunami after people walking across St Michael's Mount causeway suddenly found themselves standing in water.
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