Warnings of Spain, Italy and France storm as gales hit hotspots

Warnings have been issued for travellers to Spain, Italy and France as a new deep low hit causing severe winds. Footage showed devastating winds hitting the Balaeric Islands – with video of sun loungers flying through the air at hotels in Mallorca.

It has been called Storm Rea by the Italian Met Service, and is set to sweep parts of the Meditterannean today. Passengers were injured when the P&O cruise ship was involved in a collision with another vessel at Mallorca in an incident the company said was caused by the weather, WalesOnline reported.

In a warning the Met Office said: “Some very strong Mistral winds are likely across parts of France and Italy in association with a deep low, which the Italian Met Service have named Storm #Rea. Ahead of this, severe thunderstorms will affect parts of southern and eastern Europe.”

And it added: “Severe thunderstorms are affecting the Balearic Islands, leading to heavy rain and strong gusty winds.” In the collision between the P&O crujse liner and a freight vessel an unknown number of people were injured.

In a statement P&O said: “On Sunday 27 August, 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.”

The 112 emergency service in the Balearics reported 84 storm-related incidents in Mallorca in the space of an hour on Sunday. The storm hit with sudden and tremendous force around 11am. By 12 noon, there were 84 incidents – fallen trees, flooded basements and others. Of these, 49 were in Palma and 24 in Calvia.

Two flights were diverted and train and Metro services were suspended. The Council of Mallorca said no main roads had been affected by flooding but was continuing to urge caution. The strong gales sent loungers flying into the sea and the pool, which was captured on video by British holidaymakers. The video was taken at the Punta del Mar hotel and spa just outside Santa Ponsa on the island during the storm.

Passengers on board Britannia described “being pushed ashore by tugs whilst confined to our cabins” after the terrifying incident. Another guest on the 5,000 capacity ship said it was ‘panic stations’ when the horn blew on board the boat after a storm ‘suddenly hit’ off the coast of Palma in Mallorca after it snapped its moorings.

In the latest hotel footage, shared by Wendy and Alan Penson, from Caerphilly, Wales, the resort is left in disarray with sunbeds flying through the air in the wind and into the sea, WalesOnline report. At least a dozen loungers then end up in the pool in the biblical scene.

Wendy said: “It said to expect thunderstorms on the news but we saw the weather change and Alan said ‘start filming’, and we couldn’t believe how quickly it changed. It was just like a hurricane coming through from the sea into the cove. There is a small yacht opposite us and it ripped the sail off that. The Bali beds aren’t light, they’re made of steel, but the storm just took them like they were nothing.

“I was speaking with someone who works at the hotel and she said when the temperature starts to drop after a period of no rain, this tends to happen. But she said they’ve never known it like this before.” Alan added: “The unexpected storm happened at about 10.49am Spanish time. It all happened very quickly, as seen in the video.”