Following a series of record-breaking summer temperatures, popular tourist destinations across Europe are now facing a new challenge: torrential rains. Heavy downpours have hit Austria, Spain, Italy, and France, while storm warnings have been issued for parts of Greece.
The severe weather comes on the heels of a tragic incident off the coast of Sicily, where a luxury sailboat carrying tourists capsized and sank due to poor weather conditions, including waterspouts. Rescue teams have recovered the body of one victim, while six people remain missing, and 15 were rescued, according to local authorities. Additionally, late last week, torrential rains on Spain’s Balearic Islands flooded roads, forcing evacuations and causing flight cancellations. Military units were deployed to help manage the emergency on Mallorca. Although the worst of the storms have passed, tourists are being urged to remain vigilant.
Meanwhile, Greece’s National Meteorological Service has warned of storms and lightning on August 19-20 in the western, central, and northern parts of the country, including the Ionian Islands. Heavy rains also hit Austria’s alpine regions, leaving parts of Vienna underwater over the weekend and causing significant damage in other parts of the country, disrupting road and rail services, according to local authorities and media reports.
