Waterspout Caught on Video Off the Coast of Kos

A massive waterspout formed off the coast of Kos this morning, sending a towering funnel cloud from the storm clouds down to the surface of the Aegean Sea.

The phenomenon was captured on video by Richard Crewe, showing the full force of the rotating column as it churned across the water. Waterspouts of this scale are rare in the eastern Mediterranean and can pose a serious hazard to small vessels caught in their path.

Waterspouts of this scale are rare in the eastern Mediterranean and can pose a serious hazard to small vessels caught in their path.

Kos sits in the southeastern Aegean, close to the Turkish coast, and the surrounding waters are a busy corridor for fishing boats and tourist vessels during the season. Conditions that produce waterspouts, including strong updrafts and warm surface water temperatures, are not uncommon in autumn across the Greek islands.

No damage or injuries have been reported at this stage.