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| Second search at Seaford Head after further cliff fall | Second search at Seaford Head after further cliff fall |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Coastguards are carrying out another search-and-rescue operation after receiving reports of a second cliff fall at Seaford Head in East Sussex. | Coastguards are carrying out another search-and-rescue operation after receiving reports of a second cliff fall at Seaford Head in East Sussex. |
| Beach-users have been warned to keep away from the cliff, near Newhaven, and coastguards have issued an urgent appeal about a woman seen there. | |
| They said there had been conflicting 999 calls and needed to establish everyone was safe and no-one missing. | |
| On Wednesday, about 50,000 tonnes of cliff fell on to the rocks below. | On Wednesday, about 50,000 tonnes of cliff fell on to the rocks below. |
| Emergency teams said a female in a pink top was seen at the second cliff fall and appealed to her to "please call 999 and ask for the coastguard to let them know you're OK". | |
| Newhaven and Birling Gap coastguard rescue teams are at the scene. | |
| 'Continual erosion' | |
| A coastguard spokesman said the 262ft (80m) high cliff was unstable and the scale of the recent fall was unclear. | A coastguard spokesman said the 262ft (80m) high cliff was unstable and the scale of the recent fall was unclear. |
| Mark Rodway said: "The cliffs along the UK coastline are continually eroding and we've seen a number of cliff collapses in recent months. | Mark Rodway said: "The cliffs along the UK coastline are continually eroding and we've seen a number of cliff collapses in recent months. |
| "It's impossible to predict when the next piece might fall or how big it will be." | "It's impossible to predict when the next piece might fall or how big it will be." |
| Live: More news from Sussex | Live: More news from Sussex |
| Mr Rodway urged walkers to keep back from the edge of cliffs and to use designated paths. | Mr Rodway urged walkers to keep back from the edge of cliffs and to use designated paths. |
| "It's very clear that cliffs are unstable in places... there is no 'safe' place to be," he said. | "It's very clear that cliffs are unstable in places... there is no 'safe' place to be," he said. |
| "When standing at the bottom of the cliff, we would always advise people that they shouldn't stand less than the height of the cliff away. | "When standing at the bottom of the cliff, we would always advise people that they shouldn't stand less than the height of the cliff away. |
| "That means if the cliff is 25 metres high, don't go closer than 25 metres towards it. | "That means if the cliff is 25 metres high, don't go closer than 25 metres towards it. |
| "Don't be tempted to go and investigate recent falls and don't risk going to the edge to get a dramatic photo." | "Don't be tempted to go and investigate recent falls and don't risk going to the edge to get a dramatic photo." |
| On Wednesday, search and rescue teams spent several hours scouring the area beneath the cliff to ensure there were no injuries after emergency services received "multiple 999 calls" at about 16:00 BST. | On Wednesday, search and rescue teams spent several hours scouring the area beneath the cliff to ensure there were no injuries after emergency services received "multiple 999 calls" at about 16:00 BST. |
| The UK Coastguard search-and-rescue helicopter was stood down at about 17:30 and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency later confirmed the search had ended. | The UK Coastguard search-and-rescue helicopter was stood down at about 17:30 and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency later confirmed the search had ended. |