Storm Harry Unleashes Tsunami-Style Surges on Sicily, Forcing Evacuations
Residents of Sicily were seen fleeing for their lives as a tsunami-style storm surge inundated streets across the Italian island on Tuesday night. Dramatic footage circulating on social media captures the terrifying moment when colossal waves, driven by the powerful Mediterranean tempest known as Storm Harry, transformed thoroughfares into raging rivers.
Chaos and Destruction Across the Island
Videos from the scene show locals screaming and running in panic as sprawling waves submerged roads and pavements entirely. Sea foam was observed reaching the ground floors of adjacent buildings, while passersby waded through chest-high water to reach safety. One particularly striking clip depicts a towering storm surge smashing directly into the harbour at Lipari, an island off Sicily's coast.
The white water instantly flooded surrounding streets, with ferocious winds and successive waves continuing to pound the shoreline relentlessly. The violent conditions prompted Italian authorities to issue red weather alerts across Sicily, Sardinia, and Calabria, warning of gale-force winds, torrential rainfall, and dangerous storm surges.
Severe Impacts and Precautionary Measures
In Sicily, wind gusts peaked at an alarming 74 miles per hour, with waves exceeding nine metres in height. This necessitated precautionary evacuations in vulnerable areas, with approximately 190 people relocated from exposed zones amid threats of sudden flooding and surges. Catania, the island's second-largest city, recorded sea levels surging past the five-metre mark.
The severity of the storm led to significant disruptions and damage. In the port city of Messina, a section of the seaside promenade collapsed entirely due to the extreme conditions. Maritime operations were severely affected, with all ferry services to Sardinia and smaller islands suspended, stranding numerous travellers. Several Sicilian towns mandated the closure of schools, parks, and sports facilities, while firefighters worked diligently to assist families in evacuating their homes.
Images from the aftermath reveal debris scattered along seafronts, illustrating the storm's destructive power. The island is also bracing for up to 300 millimetres of rainfall over a mere two-day period, exacerbating flood risks.
Wider Mediterranean Disruption
The tempest's fury extended beyond Italy, striking nearby Malta with comparable force. Videos from Malta show powerful waves crashing onto streets, partially submerging palm trees, with winds reaching 65 mph. Authorities urged residents in affected areas to remain indoors. One distressing video posted online depicts seawater smashing through glass doors and flooding a home in the Maltese town of Marascala.
Malta's Civil Protection Department issued stern warnings, advising the public to avoid working at heights—including rooftops, balconies, and scaffolding—and to steer clear of shorelines, breakwaters, and coastal paths. The storm disrupted travel significantly, with flights and ferries to Malta either diverted or cancelled, and emergency services responding to over 180 incidents.
Further across the Mediterranean, Spain was compelled to issue yellow warnings for wind and high waves in the Andalusia region, particularly affecting coastal cities like Malaga and Almeria, where wind gusts of 43 mph were anticipated. In France, northwestern coastal areas faced heavy rain and strong winds, underscoring the broad reach of Storm Harry's impact across the region.
