GALE FORCE
Holiday warning as violent storm batters Majorca hotels, floods resorts and forces beachgoers to run for their lives
STORMS have battered the holiday island of Majorca with tourists running for their lives as trees are ripped up and streets flooded.
Terrifying footage shows gale force winds and torrential downpours battering the Spanish isle popular with Brits.
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Families scrambled for cover as deck chairs and parasols were blown across beaches after the storm hit at around 11am.
With winds hitting 55mph, a cruise ship was even sent barrelling into an oil tanker off the island, leaving some passengers with minor injuries.
Thousands of Brits could now find themselves stranded after the ship, P&O Britannia, snapped its moorings in fierce winds.
Tugboats braved 10ft swells to tether the 140,000-tonne ship.
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A P&O spokesperson said: “On Sunday August 27, P&O Cruises Britannia was involved in a weather-related incident while alongside in Palma de Mallorca.
“A small number of individuals sustained minor injuries and are being cared for by the onboard medical centre.
“To allow our technical teams to make an assessment Britannia will remain alongside in Palma de Mallorca tonight with onboard entertainment and activities scheduled.”
In a distressing clip, a woman with a young child can be seen hiding behind a car, as the thunderstorm rages around them.
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Storm debris can be seen flying around as palm trees struggled to stay rooted, and fast moving water flooded the streets.
A pregnant woman was rushed to hospital after she was struck by a sign which had been blown down by the wind, according to local reports.
Trees have been ripped down, blocking roads and causing travel chaos across the island.
Local shop fronts have been ravaged by the storm, which has strewn market stands and stock all over the streets.
One video, shared by BBC Northern Ireland weatherman Barra Best, showed a beach structure being propelled by the wind into tourists' balconies at a coastal hotel in Majorca.
Many resorts have been destroyed after being battered by storm debris, floods and winds.
Andratx is one of the areas most badly affected by the wild weather.
Officials dealt with more than 80 flood incidents within an hour this morning, according to local reports.
Basements and roads across the holiday hotspot have been flooded throughout the day.
The storm has caused 84 storm-related accidents so far, according to
Severe weather warnings and amber alerts were issued across the whole of Majorca, Ibiza, Menorca and Formentera today.
And the dangerous weather is set to continue into this evening and throughout the night.
Meteorologists from Spain's Aemet met agency predict the Tramuntana region and the north and northeast of the island will be worst hit.
The Met Office also warned Brits about the wet and wild conditions.
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It posted a video of Majorca being battered by torrential rain and wind, with the caption: "Severe thunderstorms are affecting the Balearic Islands, leading to heavy rain and strong gusty winds."
Moderate rain and wind warnings are in place across all four Balearic Islands tomorrow.
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