Weather Disasters Strike Europe and the Balkans, Disrupting Lives and Trade

Severe weather events and trade disruptions impacted several regions in Europe and the Balkans on January 27, 2026. A tornado in Turkey caused widespread damage, a landslide in Sicily forced evacuations, and lorry drivers in the Western Balkans blockaded EU borders in protest of travel restrictions.

In Turkey, the province of Antalya was hit hard by heavy rain and fierce winds overnight. According to Euronews, a tornado formed over the Aksu Stream in Aksu, lifting boats onto the shore and smashing others along the banks. Greenhouses collapsed, roofs were ripped away, and trees and power lines were downed. Kumluca, a key greenhouse farming region in Turkey, saw many agricultural facilities flattened. While the damage was extensive, no casualties were reported.

Meanwhile, in Sicily, Italy, more than 1,000 people were evacuated from the town of Niscemi after a landslide. The landslide, which occurred on Sunday following heavy rain brought by Storm Harry, caused a four-kilometer section of cliff to crumble. Euronews reported that land continued to give way due to the persistent rain. Footage showed a narrow vertical section of cliff falling away, causing a building that had already been ripped apart to further collapse. Schools were closed as a precaution. Authorities confirmed that no deaths or injuries occurred as a result of the landslide.

Adding to the disruptions, lorry drivers from four Western Balkan countries – Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and North Macedonia – blockaded more than 20 border crossings with the European Union on Monday. The coordinated protests were in response to strict enforcement of Schengen travel limits, which the drivers say threaten their livelihoods. According to officials, the blockade is causing an estimated 100 million in daily export losses. The drivers are demanding a reevaluation of the travel restrictions.