British tourists left stranded as a cruise ship crashes into an oil tanker in Mallorca
A P&O cruise ship was sent crashing into an oil tanker in Palma, Mallorca, as a severe storm swept into the Balearics this morning (Sunday). Thousands of British passengers face being stranded after the Brittania snapped its moorings in fierce gales and smashed into a moored oil tanker next to it.
Tugboats were scrambled to tether the 140,000-tonne ship amid 10ft swells and brutal gusts sweeping the islands, and passengers reported the captain ordering all crew to their muster stations and warning "This is not a drill".
There are concerns that the ship may not be able to sail as witnesses claimed the side of it was "battered" in the incident. A spokesperson for P&O Cruises said: “We are aware of an incident involving the Britannia this morning with the ship that was alongside it in Palma de Mallorca. We are working to assess the situation, and the captain is keeping all guests updated.”
It comes as severe weather warnings were issued across the Balearic hotspots of Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca and Formentera early today. The 112 emergency services in the Balearics reported 84 storm-related incidents in Majorca in the space of an hour as trees were topped and basements flooded while a pregnant woman was injured by a falling sign.
Footage of poolside furniture being tossed in blustery gales and people sprinting through heavy rain have been posted online today. One video shows a beach structure being lifted by piercing winds and smashing into tourists' balconies at a coastal hotel in Mallorca.
Que se nos ha puesto un poco mal el tiempo en Mallorca. #CalaMajor pic.twitter.com/feVWgFajGY
— 𝗗𝗔𝗡𝗜 𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗥𝗘𝗦 🔴⚪🔴⚪🔴⚪🔴 (@jumpcarey) August 27, 2023
"Severe" orange warnings for 55mph gusts and more than two inches of rain per hour are in place across the islands, which are packed with thousands of sun-seeking Brits hoping to catch last-minute summer sunshine.
Alerts are in place for the seas around the islands with dangerous 10ft swells expected.
The grim weather is set to continue into tomorrow with moderate rain and wind warnings in place across all four islands.
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