A massive section of cliff collapsed onto the beach, leaving walkers and onlookers absolutely stunned.
On the evening of Friday, August 22, a massive section of cliff dramatically collapsed near the popular Petites-Dalles beach, close to Fécamp in Normandy, France. Fortunately, no injuries were reported during the event, but the spectacle left onlookers stunned. The cliff gave way just before 7pm, sending a huge cloud of dust billowing as tons of chalk and rock tumbled down to the shore below.
The dramatic moment was captured on video by an eyewitness called Bastien Gaudaire and shared widely online. Among those who also witnessed the event firsthand was Philippe Duboc, deputy mayor of Saint-Martin-aux-Buneaux in the Seine-Maritime department and local head of the sea rescue service.
The cliff gave way just before 7pm (Image: Getty)
He told local news outlet, ICI Normandie: “We heard what sounded like a fighter jet. Everyone looked up and saw a small landslide on the Dieppe side of the cliff.
“Then a huge chunk broke away from the cliff and slid down, kicking up a huge cloud of dust. It was like something straight out of a horror film.”
Cliff collapses like this have become increasingly common along the Seine-Maritime coast. Local residents, however, have reportedly said that such incidents are rare for this time of year.
One local resident told What’s The Jam: “It’s always a shock when this happens, even though we know the cliffs here are fragile. If you are walking near the coast, please keep to the marked paths and pay attention to warning signs.”
Cliff collapses have become increasingly common along this coast (Image: Jam Press/Bastien Gaudaire)
Fécamp is a beautiful popular port town nearby (Image: Getty)
The last significant cliff collapse in the region happened on August 5 near Criel-sur-Mer, close to the beach of Mesnil-Val. Fortunately, that event also caused no injuries or damage to nearby homes.
Authorities have warned visitors to stay clear of cliff edges, follow safety signs, and avoid walking along the cliff tops or directly beneath the cliffs due to the ongoing risk of sudden rockfalls.
Petites-Dalles is a small seaside village and former fishing village in Normandy known for its stunning white chalk cliffs that surround it and its beach that is said to have inspired impressionist painters like French painter, Claude Monet.
The village is located close to Fécamp, a well-known fishing port in Normandy with stunning white cliffs, a small harbour and the Bénédictine Palace with its impressive architecture mixing neo-Gothic and neo-Renaissance influences which is the world’s only distillery for Benedictine liquor.
It was once a major centre for cod fishing and is known for producing Bénédictine, a herbal liqueur that has been crafted in the town since the 19th century.
