Strong winds blew at up to 100 kilometres per hour and waves up to eight metres high lashed the beach front of the Spanish Basque city of San Sebastian, smashing seaside walkways and bars, officials said.

Boats moored in the harbour of the town near the French border in northern Spain were overturned and cars swept down streets by waves.

Big Wave San Sebastian Northern SpainSan Sebastian’s famous Concha beachfront was badly hit by the storm, coming just a week before Easter holidays which usually bring high numbers of tourists.
Water inundated some streets, garages and basements, shattered windows, knocked over street lamps and containers and damaged parked cars. One woman was reported slightly injured after being swept away by a current.
The damage could take weeks to repair although it was too early to say how much it would cost.

Spain’s state meteorological service has issued a warning of strong winds and waves along the country’s Atlantic coast from Galicia to the Basque Country.