Malta's "Azure Window" rock formation collapses into the sea

REUTERS

 

Tourists walk on the Azure Window, a 50 metre high rock arch, at Dwejra Point cliffs on the west coast of the Maltese island of Gozo September 23, 2016. REUTERS/Darrin Zammit Lupi/Files

 

VALLETTA (Reuters) - A rock structure in the form of an arch which had featured in countless Malta tourism brochures collapsed into the sea on Wednesday in what Prime Minister Joseph Muscat described as a "heartbreaking event".

 

Geologists had long warned that the structure, on the north-western coast of the small island of Gozo, was eroding fast and the authorities had banned visitors from walking on top of it.

 

The structure, known as the Azure Window because it arched over blue seas popular with divers, collapsed as Malta was hit by rough seas and stormy weather.

 

Gozo resident Roger Chessell went to the coastline in the morning to take pictures.

 

"There was a big raging sea beneath the Azure Window," he told the Times of Malta newspaper. "Suddenly, the arch collapsed into the sea with a loud whoomph, throwing up a huge spray."

 

Prime Minister Muscat said in a Tweet that the famous Mediterranean landmark had always faced destruction because of natural corrosion. "That sad day has arrived," he wrote.

 

(Reporting by Chris Scicluna; editing by Crispian Balmer)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-03-09

Bummer.  I'll be there in a few weeks!

it is actually quite incredible to witness such an event. Humans have been around for only the blinking of an eye in geological terms so to actually be around for an event such as this which may have taken a total of millions of years is quite incredible.

 

From what I can see on the net it is not just the archway (the bridge part) that has collapsed, it is the entire limestone pillar section on the left of the photo. It has all gone. Looking for a decent photo to put up, I guess lots will come out today.

We kept an apartment on Gozo for 10 years, and have been to the Azure Window many times with visitors.

 

I often wondered about its stability as hundreds of people used to climb over the top.

 

This will be a huge blow to the tourism industry there....

Didn't the original engineers put enough re-bar in it?  It brings to mind a cartoon of a large flat plain with a few surveyors walking on it.  Caption:  "Early work on the Grand Canyon."

39 minutes ago, Andaman Al said:

it is actually quite incredible to witness such an event. Humans have been around for only the blinking of an eye in geological terms so to actually be around for an event such as this which may have taken a total of millions of years is quite incredible.

 

From what I can see on the net it is not just the archway (the bridge part) that has collapsed, it is the entire limestone pillar section on the left of the photo. It has all gone. Looking for a decent photo to put up, I guess lots will come out today.

Sure, but as said, it hasn't helped with all the dimwits clambering over it.

1 hour ago, Andaman Al said:

it is actually quite incredible to witness such an event. Humans have been around for only the blinking of an eye in geological terms so to actually be around for an event such as this which may have taken a total of millions of years is quite incredible.

 

From what I can see on the net it is not just the archway (the bridge part) that has collapsed, it is the entire limestone pillar section on the left of the photo. It has all gone. Looking for a decent photo to put up, I guess lots will come out today.

 

This one went very quickly. Rock must have been pretty soft. It's just the arch that is gone, the stack on the left is still there.

 

 

These structures are made by the seas and eventually claimed back as erosion continues.

 

"The Twelve Apostles is a collection of limestone stacks off the shore of the Port Campbell National Park, by the Great Ocean Road in Victoria, Australia. Their proximity to one another has made the site a popular tourist attraction. Currently there are eight apostles left, the ninth stack having collapsed dramatically in July 2005".......   from Wiki

 

Ashes to ashes.  Dust to dust.

2 hours ago, Old Croc said:

These structures are made by the seas and eventually claimed back as erosion continues.

 

"The Twelve Apostles is a collection of limestone stacks off the shore of the Port Campbell National Park, by the Great Ocean Road in Victoria, Australia. Their proximity to one another has made the site a popular tourist attraction. Currently there are eight apostles left, the ninth stack having collapsed dramatically in July 2005".......   from Wiki

 

an arch on the apostles fell down while a man and his secretary were on the island side. they had to be helicoptered off. the guy had some explaining to do to his wife.

Stuff like that happens when you keep letting the Chinese and other Tourists take pieces home as souvenirs ;-) 

7 hours ago, ddavidovsky said:

 

This one went very quickly. Rock must have been pretty soft. It's just the arch that is gone, the stack on the left is still there.

 

 

Thanks for the great visual 

Ask Trump, he'll tell you it's a Chinese conspiracy and Hillary colluded with the Libyans to make it happen.