Windstorms and huge waves last Wednesday morning hit Malta and Gozo causing the destruction of the whole iconic arch of Azure Window.
The Azure Window, a limestone rock formation, which is one of Malta's famous landmarks on the island of Gozo, has been featured in films, especially on the popular TV series, Game of Thrones, and was known as "notorious" to cliff-jumping-tourists.
It is also believed to have formed naturally around mid-19th century, wherein it had a flat-top above the sea of Dwerja and attractive natural arch beauty.
Natural Catastrophe
Geologist Peter Gatt said that the limestone pillar supporting the arch collapsed. He noted that the reason for erosion by both under and over-ground sea swells for years and past storms. A warning was raised a long time ago that the arch may fall anytime. It helped because no one was injured when it happened.
Locals were very sad to see the famous landmark collapsed, together with Malta's prime minister, Joseph Muscat. He called the news "heartbreaking".Prime Minister Muscat tweeted that an unavoidable natural corrosion was expected to hit the famous Mediterranean landmark- and it happened.
The Azure Window Before It Collapsed
Roger Chessell, a local resident of Xaghra on Gozo, was at Dwejra in the morning when it happened taking pictures of the storm. "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," He added.
The Azure window also served as a backdrop in the 1981 film Clash of the Titans. With parts of the rock formation starts to decay over the years, the government implemented a $US2,300 fine to whoever attempts to walk across the arch.
