Huge rock falls from cliff after cracking in hot heat

Huge rock falls from cliff after cracking in hot heat

Another significant cliff fall occurred today along the Jurassic Coast, which has been burnt and fractured as a result of the recent hot weather.The rock falling and landing on the beach caused a large plume of rubble and dust to riseSidmouth cliff was weakened by the recent heat and broke crashing into the beach below

At 9.15 a.m., a big chunk of Sidmouth cliff in Devon toppled into the shore, shocking walkers.

According to eyewitnesses, parts of the cliff face are still giving way hours later.

There have been no reported casualties.

Beachgoers can be seen watching as the boulder starts to fall before collapsing onto the beach below, creating a big cloud of rubble and dust to rise. The current weather has produced a succession of landslides along this stretch of shore, with one rockfall occurring two weeks ago when temperatures approached 40 degrees Celsius.

Lee and Joanna Holt, Staffordshire vacationers, were out strolling this morning when they observed the fall.

‘My wife and I are early birds, we like to visit locations before the town becomes crowded,’ Mr Holt said.

We were walking down the promenade when I saw a little dust cloud on the shore, and then the cliff collapsed.

‘We didn’t hear anything, but the scene was breathtaking.’

‘At the moment, pieces of the cliff are still giving way.’

East Devon District’s Engineering Geologist stated two weeks ago that the collapses are the result of abnormally hot and dry circumstances damaging the cliff.

Visitors have been told that the East Bay in Sidmouth is dangerous and should avoid it.

‘The cliff fall this morning was highly perilous,’ said Guy Russell, lifeguard supervisor at Sidmouth.

‘It would have been deadly if you had been on the beach this morning.’

‘As I speak to you, more rocks are falling from the cliff.

‘The main message for the public is to pay heed to the warnings and stay away from East Beach,’ says the spokesperson.