Shock moment tourists flee as TORNADO smashes into Italian beach sending parasols flying into the air

The Sun

16 hours ago

THIS is the shocking moment a tornado barrelled into a packed Italian beach - sending parasols hurtling into the sky as panicked tourists ran for their lives.
Wild footage captured the terrifying twister tearing across the shore in Maccarese, north of Rome.
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Dozens of stunned sunseekers were seen sprinting across the sand as the swirling column of wind ripped umbrellas out of the ground and flung them into the air like darts.
Terrified locals and tourists clutched their bags and beach gear to their chests while desperately fleeing the chaos on Sunday.
Sand and parasols swirled high above their heads, creating a dizzying vortex over the beachfront as the tornado carved through the scene.
Incredibly, some beachgoers refused to budge — staying glued to their loungers even as the winds whipped towels and belongings across the sand.
At least one woman suffered minor injuries, according to local reports, and required medical attention after the whirlwind struck.
But the drama was far from over.
Around 1pm that same day, another violent weather spectacle was caught on camera off Italy's east coast.
A pair of towering waterspouts spun out of a thunderstorm near the Delta del Po, stunning locals and halting boat tours.
Watch moment towering waterspout tornado slams into beach sending bathers fleeing running and hurling tables & chairs
One tour boat operator paused his excursion to capture the rare double phenomenon which saw the twin columns "dance" across the sea.
The Emilia-Romagna Meteo Facebook page later shared the eerie footage, showing the watery spires forming, folding, and merging during the storm.
Waterspouts — tornado-like funnels that form over water — aren't unheard of in Europe, with around 500 recorded each year.
But locals were warned this week to brace for more.
A moderate wind warning was issued by Italy's Meteorological Service on Monday, cautioning residents of "moderate intensity weather phenomena" in the north.
Heavy rain and thunderstorms are also forecast to hammer the Marche and Umbria regions through late Monday morning.
Last year, a towering waterspout tornado crashed into a packed-out beach on Italy's Adriatic coast.
Holidaymakers in Salento were sent into a frenzy as the massive waterspout hurtled toward the San Cataldo, Torre Specchia, and San Foca marinas.
Videos showed the menacing spout churning out of dark clouds and charging at the beach, tossing deckchairs, tables and even jet skis into the air.
Panic erupted as families bolted from the shoreline.
One clip showed beachgoers fleeing up a flight of steps just before the spout slams into the sand, leaving a trail of wreckage behind.
Bins, umbrellas, and sunbeds were scattered across the beach like toys.
What is a waterspout?
A WATERSPOUT is a whirlwind of air and water mist, according to the National Ocean Service.
They act in the same way as land tornadoes with them causing paths of destruction and throwing around items.
They can form during severe thunderstorms with high winds, strong hail and dangerous lightning.
They can reach up to 330ft in diameter and can last for up to an hour, according to experts at National Geographic.
A waterspout was even blamed on the Bayesian superyacht tragedy last month.
A "Black Swan" sea twister off Sicily caused the yacht to capsize, say reports.
Frightening footage emerged of a separate waterspout lashing the Italian coast on the same day the Bayesian sank.
A beach in the Basilicata region also showed a twister tear by the sands.
Blue skies ominously fade to darkness as it approaches, before holidaymakers run for their lives.