Weather Disasters Strike Europe: Tornado in Turkey, Landslide in Sicily, Balkan Lorry Drivers Block EU Borders
Severe weather events and related disruptions impacted Europe on Monday, January 27, 2026, with a tornado causing widespread damage in Turkey, a major landslide forcing evacuations in Sicily, and lorry drivers from the Western Balkans blockading EU borders in protest.
In Turkey's Antalya province, heavy rain and fierce winds spawned a tornado that caused significant damage, particularly in Aksu and Kumluca. According to Euronews, the tornado formed over the Aksu Stream, 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, more than 1,000 people were evacuated from the town of Niscemi after a four-kilometer section of cliff crumbled following heavy rain brought by Storm Harry, Euronews reported. The landslide occurred on Sunday, and 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.
Separately, 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 Euronews. Officials estimated that the blockade was causing 100 million in daily export losses. The drivers are protesting what they consider overly restrictive visa policies that impede their ability to conduct cross-border trade efficiently.
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