Malta’s Azure Window landmark and tourist destination collapsed into the sea Wednesday morning and was completely washed away.
A strong storm containing gale force winds hit the coast near the natural landmark and led to its collapse, according to the Times of Malta.
Geologists have long warned that erosion from the water would at some point lead to the arch’s destruction, and Environment Minister Jose Herrera said no man-made intervention could have stopped the collapse, the Times said.
Local resident Roger Chessell was nearby and witnessed the window’s collapse after going to take pictures of the storm.
“There was a big raging sea beneath the window,” he told the Times. “Suddenly, the arch collapsed into the sea with a loud whoomph, throwing up a huge spray. Bu the time the spray had faded, the stack had gone too.”
The Azure Window arch, which was located on the northwest coast of Gozo, a small island, drew many tourists to the area and was even featured in many Malta tourist brochures and in the HBO show “Game of Thrones.”
Tourism minister Edward Zammit Lewis said the loss of the arch was a marketing blow, but that he was confident Gozitan tourism would remain strong, the Times of Malta reported.
Gozo minister Anton Refalo said the collapse was like “losing a part of yourself” but also stressed that Gozo had much more to offer other than just the Azure Window, the Times reported.
Twitter users mourned the loss of the iconic Azure Window.
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