Huge 230ft crack emerges in a cliff on the Jurassic Coast as experts warn thousands of tonnes of rock, boulders and earth could collapse onto the beach below ‘at any moment’
- The 60ft-wide section of the 600ft-cliff at Seatown, Dorset, has sunk by 3ft
- An initial crack had been left in the cliff following a huge collapse in April 2021
A huge 230ft-long crack in a cliff on Britain’s Jurassic Coast has emerged and is on the verge of collapse.
The 60ft-wide section of the 600ft-cliff at Seatown, Dorset, has sunk by 3ft and is in the process of splitting away from the mainland.
Experts believe that the whole section is about to give way at any moment and are urging the public to keep away.
When it does inevitably go it will send thousands of tonnes of rock, boulders and earth onto the beach below.
A huge 230ft-long crack in a cliff (pictured) on Britain’s Jurassic Coast has emerged and is on the verge of collapse
The 60ft wide section of the 600ft-cliff at Seatown, Dorset, has sunk by 3ft and is in the process of splitting away from the mainland
An initial crack had been left in the ancient sandstone cliff following a huge collapse in April 2021 but recent movements have destabilised it further.
The cliff-top beauty spot above Seatown beach, near West Bay, forms part of Britain’s UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It is walked by tens of thousands of ramblers a year but the unstable cliffs mean that the stretch of coast is notorious for landslips.
Just last week 1,000 tonnes of rock poured onto the beach in West Bay which was the real-life setting for TV’s Broadchurch.
Local geologist Richard Edmonds explained that the 180-million-year-old sandstone cliffs are particularly vulnerable after a cliff collapse.
He said: ‘We have 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 which will have undermined this parts support.
‘It could go at any moment, any spells of rain could be all it takes to completely undermine it.
‘This part of the cliff has clearly slipped down and stopped for now but it is on a knife edge.
Experts believe that the whole section is about to give way at any moment and are urging the public to keep away
When it does inevitably go it will send thousands of tonnes of rock, boulders and earth onto the beach below
An initial crack had been left in the ancient sandstone cliff following a huge collapse in April 2021 but recent movements have destabilised it further
‘The public needs to be aware how dangerous it is walking near these cliffs at the moment.
‘If people see any sign of any movement on the cliff you need to get away as quickly as possible.’
In 2012 tourist Charlotte Blackman, 22, was crushed to death when a huge landslip occurred as she walked under the cliffs further along the coast at Burton Bradstock.
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