Bronte Beach, a popular eastern Sydney destination, witnessed a cliff coming crashing down on Friday morning. No injuries or loss of property were reported in the incident, Australian media reports confirmed. It was around 11:00 AM local time that the reportedly 20-metre-long and six-metre-wide sandstone cliff collapsed at the iconic Sydney beach.
A cliff at a popular eastern Sydney beach has collapsed, causing part of the beach to close and sparking concerns from residents worried about safety.
It crashed into a stormwater drain and part of the north side of the beach. The weather was not favourable for beachgoers, which is said to be the reason for no one being injured in the incident. Had it been a sunny day, people would have been in and around the region where the cliff collapsed, local media reports said.
Is Bronte Beach closed?
Waverley Council has blocked off a small portion of the beach and surrounding walkways following the incident, The Sydney Morning Herald reported. An official probe has begun to ascertain if rainfall was the reason for the collapse.
Lifeguards and locals described the incident as unforgettable as the ground shook beneath their feet before the cliff collapsed with a loud crash. The sound was described by a few as the loudest crack they had ever heard, the report said.
What caused the Bronte Beach rockfall?
The council is investigating whether heavy rainfall contributed to the collapse. As things stand, they believe continuous heavy rainfall caused a section of the cliff to slide down, beneath which a stormwater drain, or culvert, was located. As this happened, the culvert and a safety rail were "badly damaged", an official reportedly told The Sydney Morning Herald. It was also confirmed that a geotechnical assessment will be conducted to ensure the stability of the cliff area. The findings from the assessment will decide whether the exclusion zone at Bronte Beach needs to be extended, the report added.
Meanwhile, geoscientists have told Australian media that rockfalls are natural on sandstone cliffs which get fractured over time. Sometimes the waves are powerful enough to trigger a rockfall, they said.
Bronte Beach is situated a couple of kilometres south of Sydney's famous Bondi Beach. The small sandy beach nestled between rocky headlands is popular for its 'Bronte Baths'—an ocean-fed lap pool—and the "Bogey Hole," a natural rock pool that is considered safe for beginners.