Freak wave swamps tourist hotspots

A freak wave has inundated tourist hotspots on the islands of Mallorca and Menorca in the Mediterranean.

Water was streaming down streets after the wave hit Ciutadella on Menorca's west coast and Alcudia on Mallorca's north.

The 1.5-metre wave also tore boats from their moorings and dragged along by the current, while some of those piloting their vessels struggled to keep them under control.

Footage showed one man, being towed behind a catamaran, dragged under the larger boat.

The "mini-tsunami" is known as a “meteotsunami”, and is caused by rapidly changing barometric pressure triggered by weather events such as storms.

In contrast, true tsunamis are caused by seismic activities.