VALLETTA, MALTA — The Azure Window, a natural rock arch which jutted onto the sea off Malta and was a backdrop for the “Game of Thrones” TV series, has collapsed in a storm.
Malta Prime Minister Joseph Muscat tweeted his “heartbreaking” sadness at the loss Wednesday of one of the main tourist attractions on the island of Gozo.
No one was *******.
Geologist Peter Gatt said the limestone pillar supporting the arch gave way. He attributed the collapse to years of erosion by both under- and over-ground sea swells.
The window also served as a backdrop in the 1981 movie “Clash of the Titans.”
With parts of the rock formation crumbling over the years, the government last month enacted €1,500 fines for anyone caught walking across the arch.
It is a very sad day for Malta. The iconic Azure Window collapsed this morning, succumbing to the forces of nature and the passage of time. pic.twitter.com/ovc8Yj9gWH
— VisitMalta (@VisitMalta) March 8, 2017
#Dwejra #AzureWindow site today. Picture by @Armed_Forces_MT pic.twitter.com/9reBk7nmr5
— Joseph Muscat (@JosephMuscat_JM) March 8, 2017
