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Large rockfall at West Bay on Jurassic Coast Large rockfall at West Bay on Jurassic Coast
(about 7 hours later)
A popular stretch of the Jurassic Coast in Dorset has been hit by a large rockfall. A popular stretch of the Jurassic Coast in Dorset has been hit by a large rock fall. It happened at the East Cliff side of West Bay, near Bridport, at about 7.40pm on Tuesday. Police, coastguards, the fire service and local authorities are investigating.
It happened at the East Cliff side of West Bay, near Bridport, at about 7.40pm on Tuesday. It is not thought that anyone was trapped following the fall but further assessments are being carried out by geology experts. A cordon has been put in place and the coastal path is closed from the east side of West Bay to Burton Bradstock.
Police, coastguards, the fire service and the local authorities were investigating. Ch Insp Steve White of Dorset police said: “Although at this stage it is not thought anyone has been trapped by the fall, I would appeal to the public that, in the unlikely event that you are aware of someone who has not returned home from West Bay this evening, please report the details to the police urgently via 999.
It was not thought that anyone was trapped following the fall but further assessments were being carried out by geology experts. “We would like to remind people that the cliffs remain unstable and it is possible further rock falls could occur. We urge the public to obey warning signs, not to stand near the edge of cliffs or stand directly underneath them. Landslides and rock falls can happen at any time and without warning.”
A cordon was put in place and the coastal path closed from the east side of West Bay to Burton Bradstock. West Bay is part of the Jurassic Coast world heritage site and is popular with holidaymakers and tourists. Cliff falls and landslips are commonplace on the Jurassic Coast, where the power of the sea is continually eroding the coastline.
CI Steve White, of Dorset police, said: “Although at this stage it is not thought anyone has been trapped by the fall, I would appeal to the public that, in the unlikely event that you are aware of someone who has not returned home from West Bay this evening, please report the details to the police urgently via 999. One of the biggest was in 2008 when 1,312ft (400 metres) of cliff slipped and blocked a beach between Lyme Regis and Charmouth. In 2012, Charlotte Blackman was killed when 400 tonnes of rock collapsed on to Hive Beach at Burton Bradstock.
“We would like to remind people that the cliffs remain unstable and it is possible further rock falls could occur. Sally King, visitor manager for the Jurassic Coast World heritage site, said: “We have geologists making an assessment of the situation and then we will have a better idea of just how big this was and what caused it – but certainly it was a very large fall.
“We urge the public to obey warning signs, not to stand near the edge of cliffs or stand directly underneath them. Landslides and rockfalls can happen at any time and without warning.” “Rock falls like this one are completely unpredictable and can and do happen at any time as has been the case here. Our advice is to always to tell people to stay well away from the cliffs.
West Bay is part of the Jurassic Coast world heritage site and is popular with holidaymakers and tourists. “It is very, very lucky that nobody was hurt – people are continuing to go near the cliff despite the fact there are lots of signs warning people to stay away.”
Cliff-falls and landslips are commonplace on the Jurassic Coast, where the power of the sea is continually eroding the coastline. It is thought that about 300 to 400 tons of rock fell during the landslip.
One of the biggest was in 2008 when 1,312ft (400 metres) of cliff slipped and blocked a beach between Lyme Regis and Charmouth.
In 2012, Charlotte Blackman was killed when 400 tonnes of rock collapsed on to Hive Beach at Burton Bradstock.