Mallorca tsunami: Is it still safe to travel to the Balearic Islands?
Residents of Menorca and Mallorca are recovering after a freak mini-tsunami hit the two Balearic Islands on 16 July.
The waves, which hit Puerto de Alcudia in the north of Mallorca and Port d’Andratx in the south-east of the island, are reported to be meteosunamis: a phenomenon caused by rapid changes in barometric pressure, resulting in the displacement of water.
Video footage shows umbrellas and sun loungers being swept away by the rising water.
The unusual weather conditions also affected Cituadella in western Menorca, causing flooding.
Thankfully, no injuries have been reported.
Is it safe to travel?
No restrictions are currently in place for travel to the Balearic Islands.
How will my holiday be affected?
Flights to the islands do not appear to have been affected, with services from Palma Airport in Mallorca and Menorca airport operating as normal.
Thomas Cook and British Airways also confirmed to The Independent that flights were unaffected.
A spokesperson for the four-star Botel Alcudiamar in Puerto de Alcudia seemed unfazed by the wave. He told The Independent that the wave was “a normal movement of the water that happens every few years” and confirmed that roads in the area were clear and that normal services had resumed.
A spokesperson at the Aparthotel La Pergola complex in Port Andratx told The Independent that the sea levels rose by about one metre, but that roads and hotels had not been drastically affected. “Mallorca is still beautiful,” they added.
Palma airport was the scene of more anti-tourism protests last weekend.
The campaigning group Ciutat ("City for the person who lives in it") is just one of a number of activist groups opposing the high volume of visitors to the island. They argue that the visitor numbers are unsustainable and aim to “demonstrate the devastating effects of mass tourism” on the locality, reports the Daily Express.
