Meteotsunami floods Mali Lošinj and other Adriatic resorts

On July 20 a meteotsunami struck the Croatian Adriatic coast, causing the sea level to surge within seconds and inundate promenades, streets and restaurant terraces in the Kvarner Bay area, especially the resort town of Mali Lošinj. Witnesses described panic as water rose knee‑deep, with some trying to rescue furniture from the surge. The event is the second such incident in a few days after similar sea‑level spikes earlier in the week affected Pula, Zadar and Stari Grad. No major structural damage has been reported so far. The phenomenon is caused by rapid atmospheric pressure changes linked to thunderstorms, not by earthquakes, and can generate waves over 1.8 metres high. Local authorities noted that such flooding is becoming more frequent in the Adriatic, where the shape of bays and shallow waters amplify the effect. In nearby towns, including Mali Ston and Stari Grad, the water briefly covered the waterfront riva, prompting cancellations of several ferry and catamaran services.