Huge crack emerges in cliff on the Jurassic Coast as experts warn it could collapse ‘at any moment’
Huge 230ft crack appears in Jurassic Coast cliff as experts warn thousands of tons of rock, boulders and soil could tumble onto beach below ‘any moment’
- The 60ft wide section of the 600ft cliff at Seatown, Dorset has dropped 3ft
- After a massive collapse in April 2021, a first crack remained in the cliff
A huge 230ft long crack in a cliff on Britain’s Jurassic Coast has emerged and is about to collapse.
The 60ft wide section of the 600ft cliff at Seatown, Dorset has sunk 3ft and is in the process of breaking away from the mainland.
Experts believe the entire section is about to give way at any moment and are urging the public to stay away.
When it inevitably goes off, thousands of tons of rock, debris and dirt will be hurled onto the beach below.
A huge 230ft crack in a cliff (pictured) on Britain’s Jurassic Coast has emerged and is about to collapse
The 60ft wide section of the 600ft cliff at Seatown, Dorset has sunk 3ft and is in the process of breaking away from the mainland
After a massive collapse in April 2021, an initial crack remained in the ancient sandstone cliff, but recent movements have further destabilized it.
The beauty spot on a cliff above Seatown Beach near West Bay is part of Britain’s UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It is walked by tens of thousands of hikers annually, but the unstable cliffs mean the stretch of coast is notorious for landslides.
Just last week, 1,000 tonnes of rock spilled onto the West Bay beach, which was the real setting for the Broadchurch TV show.
Local geologist Richard Edmonds explained that the 180-million-year-old sandstone cliffs are particularly vulnerable after a cliff collapse.
He said: “We’ve had enough sustained rainfall now for anything to happen over the next few months.
“This particular part of the cliff had a massive collapse two years ago that will have undermined the support of that part.
“It could start at any moment, rain showers could be enough to completely undermine it.
“This part of the cliff has clearly slid down and has stopped for the time being, but it’s on a razor’s edge.
Experts believe the entire section is about to give way at any moment and are urging the public to stay away
When it inevitably goes off, thousands of tons of rock, debris and dirt will be hurled onto the beach below
After a massive collapse in April 2021, an initial crack remained in the ancient sandstone cliff, but recent movements have further destabilized it
“The public needs to be aware of how dangerous it is to walk near these cliffs at this time.
“If people see any signs of movement on the cliff, you need to get away as soon as possible.”
In 2012, 22-year-old tourist Charlotte Blackman was crushed by a giant landslide as she passed under the cliffs further along the coast at Burton Bradstock.
