The phenomenon, known as il-Milgħuba, is triggered by a sudden change in atmospheric pressure
Seiche waves returned to the Maltese coastline early on Saturday morning, with reports of vehicles being dragged into the sea thanks to the phenomenon known as an atmospheric tsunami.
Police confirmed on Saturday morning that sea levels had risen in a number of coastal localities and said they had received one report of a car having been dragged into the water in St Paul's Bay. No one was injured in that incident, they said.
Footage posted on social media suggested more vehicles were impacted, however: apart from the sunken vehicle in Salini which was flagged to the police, people also shared images of another car submerged at Veċċja point in Xemxija.
Photos also showed water levels rising at the Marsascala promenade, with seawater flooding the main road and reaching parked cars at around 3 am on Saturday morning.
The rising water also displaced some small boats, landing them on dry land.
Seiche waves, or il-Milgħuba as it is known in Maltese, is a phenomenon that occurs when there is a sudden change in atmospheric pressure, causing the sea to rise rapidly and then quickly retreat a short while later.
Although the phenomenon is referred to as an atmospheric tsunami, it is not like tsunamis that displace large volumes of water, causing untold destruction.
When the seiche waves occur it is because air pressure is pushing down on the sea, causing it to move back from the shore as it drifts towards the dip. It then flows back towards the shore as it settles into place, creating an oscillation until the water settles.
Het begin van het carnavalsseizoen op 11 november (de elfde van de elfde) wordt niet alleen in het zuiden van Nederland maar nu ook in Malta gevierd!
Of je nou in Malta op vakantie bent, je loopt hier stage of je woont in Malta. Blue grotto is één van de plekken die je gezien moet hebben. Blue grotto vind je in het zuiden van het eiland en bevind zich in het rustige gedeelte van Malta.
Vanaf nu hebben we een sportief evenement voor jullie op de kalender staan.
Ga gezellig mee met ons op de Fernandis! We gaan in de ochtend weg vanuit Sliema en zullen zowel Blue lagoon als Gozo gaan bezoeken. We worden volledig verzorgt natuurlijk met een snack in de morgen, uitgebreide lunch en nog een snack in de middag. Ook is er open bar op Wijn, bier, water en fris!
Veel mensen kiezen ervoor om deze plek met een kajak te bezoeken.
