Cliff collapse in Jurassic Coast, United Kingdom

Authorities urged people to stay away from cliffs in Jurassic Coast, UK, after a rockfall occurred between Freshwater and Hive Beach.

The Jurassic Coast stretches from East Devon to Studland Bay in Dorset covering a distance of 154 km. In 2001 it was designated as a World Heritage Site as it consists of a rare geological setting. Intense coastal erosion has revealed a series of formations deriving from different geological periods (Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous). 

The central part of the Jurassic Coast is the most popular and presents one of the world's most notable marine sequences dating back to the Jurassic Period. The stratigraphy is composed of limestones, mudstones and sandstones which have been preserved after a series of 6 rising and falling sea-level cycles. The middle section is also known for its abundance of fossils. 

The rockfall occurred on August 28, 2020, near the village  of Burton Bradstock sending about 9,000 tons of debris to the beach below. Authorities urgently initiated a rescue operation to detect if there were people trapped under the debris as the site is crowded at this time of the year. The site was closed to the public.

The rescue teams did not find any victims and utilized innovative techniques such as thermal imaging to make sure that no one was trapped under the debris. "Crews carried out a visual inspection and used a thermal imaging camera to check for any possible casualties around the edge. Nothing was found," a spokesman for Bridport Fire Station, stated.

According to officials, the heavy rainfalls that preceded the failure contributed to the collapse by eroding the rock formations and by building up pore-water pressure. "We have had a lot of rain and strong stormy seas battering the cliffs making them very unstable. Cliff falls can happen at any time without warning." Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, stated.

Despite the warnings issued by officials, a visitor who was at the scene the hours following the collapse stated that people do not understand the severity of the situation and continue to approach sites that are prone to rockfalls. 

8 years ago, a 22-year-old woman died after being struck by tons of debris deriving from a rockfall that occurred on a Dorset beach, close to the location of the current cliff collapse. 2 more people were trapped due to the same rockfall but they were rescued. 

In March 2020, another section of the Jurassic coastal cliff collapsed blocking the path between Freshwater and Hive Beach and changing the landscape.