The 1556 Tornado in Malta's Grand Harbor That Destroyed the Best Ships and Claimed Hundreds of Lives (7 photos + 1 video)
The deadliest tornado in Maltese and world history swept through the harbour in September 1556, killing over 600 people. 
An ordinary sunny day, a Mediterranean paradise island, turquoise waters gently lapping the shore, and the harbour bustling with life. But on that fateful day, 23 September 1556 (according to other sources, 1551), the tranquility of Malta's Grand Harbour was shattered by a mad whim of nature. A powerful tornado hit the harbour, which can only be described as a terrifying sight.
Maltese Tornado 
At exactly seven o'clock in the morning, the unsuspecting residents of Valletta (the capital of Malta, which officially received its status and name only a few years after these events) were about to witness a terrifying natural phenomenon. Tornadoes, usually caused by unstable updrafts, are a rare occurrence over water. However, under certain conditions, they can form there and unleash the wild fury of the elements on anything nearby. On that fateful day, these conditions unfortunately coincided, and the Grand Harbour of Malta became the scene of a catastrophic event. 
A sailing ship among waterspouts
Pierre-Marie-Louis Cerdoux, a French Knight of Malta and historian, chronicled the events that unfolded on that fateful morning. In his stories, Cerdoux vividly described the power of the tornado and its devastating effects. Within half an hour, countless ships were swallowed by the seething waters, their wooden frames snapping like dry branches. The galleys were reduced to rubble before our eyes, and the once bustling port area was reduced to a graveyard.
Tragic Loss of Life 
The toll on life was staggering. Cerdu's notes bear witness to the heartbreaking reality of the disaster. As the tornado ravaged the harbor, four galleys, including the Santa Fe, San Claudio, San Michele, and San Filippo, met a tragic fate. The officers, soldiers and galley slaves on board these vessels were either carried away by the current or crushed by the wreckage of the capsized ships. The losses were enormous: more than 600 people died that day, including the Knights of Malta, who valiantly fought the elements, but were powerless before the might of its wrath.
The aftermath of the destruction and the restoration work 
The harbor 9 years after the tornado
After the destruction, Malta mourned its victims. However, the resilience of the island's inhabitants was demonstrated by the fact that they rallied to rebuild everything that was destroyed. The Grand Master of the Order of St John, Claude de la Sengle, saw the need to restore the houses and ships that had fallen into ruin. Reconstruction work began, breathing new life into the scarred harbour area.
Memory of the Grand Harbour Tornado 
Knights of the Order of Malta
Centuries have passed since that fateful day, and Valletta, now a thriving city, bears few traces of that tragic event. The memory of the Grand Harbour Tornado lives on in the historical record and in the collective consciousness of the Maltese people. It serves as a reminder of the forces of nature that can wreak havoc even in the most idyllic of places. 
Valletta today
Tornadoes remain in history as an ancient testimony to the destructive power of nature and serve as a reminder of the fragility of human existence in the face of such powerful forces.
Tornadoes still occur in Malta today
