A winter-sun island has been turned into a ghost town, with locals and tourists alike sheltering indoors.

Storm Harry pummelled Maltathroughout yesterday and overnight, hitting the European island with 120km winds and large waves that breached the sea defences, flooding coastal towns. Resorts such as Marsaskala were overwhelmed by the surge, which dumped debris across the streets.

Ferries between Malta and Gozo stopped operating, leading hotels on the main island to offer cut-price accommodation to those unable to get home. MaltaPost suspended deliveries and yesterday’s waste collection was stopped to avoid rubbish bags being blown onto the roads. The streets were deserted for much of Tuesday as locals heeded calls to stay home.

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The Mirror's Rachael Penn found herself swept up in the storm chaos, having picked the ‘jewel in the crown of the Mediterranean' for a winter sun break.

"Weather here in January is usually perfect, cool but bright with plenty of sunshine and temperatures sitting around 16C with the evenings getting a little chillier. In all the years of visiting at this time of year I’ve only ever seen it rain a handful of times, but this year Storm Harry rolled in, bringing torrential rain and violent winds, prompting severe weather warnings and advice to stay indoors while it passed," she wrote from the safety of her Vallettahotel as the ferocious weather raged outside.

The scenes in the capital were worlds away from how they typically are at this time of the year, when sunseekers fill the medieval streets.

"Valletta felt like a ghost town, with businesses closed, restaurants shuttered and tourist attractions, including many of the city’s museums and palaces, simply not open," Rachael wrote.

"Still, I thought it was a good time to explore Valletta whilst it was so quiet. I headed from my hotel to Republic Street, battling the gusts to get up the hill. Aside from there being no people around, it was a strange sight not seeing the rows of outdoor seating that had taken over the pavements and had been a cause of discontent amongst the locals for many years. With the streets clear and it almost felt like a glimpse into what historic Malta would’ve looked like.

"From Republic Street, I made my way to Upper Barrakka Gardens, one of the city's most popular viewpoints with sweeping views of the Grand Harbour and Three Cities. As I approached the edge of the city walls, I could feel my exploration was about to come to an end as the wind was so strong it nearly knocked me off my feet - and I like my wine and pastizzi a little too much to ever be someone knocked off their feet by a gust of wind.

"So as I turned back down the hill, I was pleasantly surprised to see that a couple of the landmark pubs were still open for weary travellers and locals who happened to be blown through their doors. The first one was The Pub, the infamous spot where Oliver Reed died in 1999 after drinking 8 pints of lager, 12 double rums, half a bottle of whisky, and a shot of cognac. It’s very much an old-school boozer, steeped in naval history as well as a shrine to Reed lining the walls."

Before heading back to her hotel, Rachael went in search of a bite to eat.

"With most of the restaurants closed, it was a relief to see that one of my absolute favourite restaurants in Valletta was still open - Cafe Jubilee. Cafe Jubilee is like stepping inside a 1920’s Italian restaurant, with red and white checked tablecloths and vintage posters adorning the walls. Go in the afternoon as it’s a little like a gangster film with men in suits sitting around enjoying a hearty lunch, by the evening it’s a cosy bistro perfect for a bite to eat or a glass of wine," she continued.

"After a meal, it was time to head back outside, drenched and windswept. We made it back to the hotel, where the next few hours were spent watching the most incredible lightning storm, which went on for hours."

The worst of the storm eased overnight, with most flights scheduled to arrive today on time.

"The coast was, of course, the worst hit during the storm, with property damaged, boats pushed out of the water and onto the promenade, and flooding. But one thing is for sure: even at its worst, Malta is still a beautiful place to be. There’s something surreal about watching a storm of this magnitude unfold in a place that is usually so busy and full of life. The quietness and eerie view of empty streets is a reminder that even the sunniest of islands aren’t immune to the powerful force of nature," Rachael concluded.