Cliff dramatically collapses onto UK beach that’s now no-go zone during heatwave

A UK beach is now a no-go zone after a cliff dramatically collapsed this morning (August 8).

Horrified witnesses watched on helplessly as Sidmouth cliff in Devon cascaded onto the sand below.

It was actually the second major landslide in the area in just two weeks, with eyewitnesses reporting that slabs continued to fall for some time.

READ MORE: UK heatwave temperatures mapped – where will be hottest tomorrow and this week

Experts have now warned that the recent heatwave – with temperatures reaching the high-thirties and even 40C in parts – is to blame.

Luckily there have been no reports of injuries from this morning, although emergency services including police and the coastguard rushed to the scene, reports the Mirror.

Scorching temperatures have made cracks in the rocks, causing them to collapse during what is the second heatwave in the UK this year.

Now, with forecasters saying that the record for the hottest day ever recorded in the UK could be broken again this week, there are concerns that landslides will become more common.

Police have also warned the public to stay away from the area and not to walk on the beach where the rock face could potentially fall.

Rural East Devon Police said in a tweet: "Another large cliff fall this morning. Reminder to beach users not to walk on the beach East of Sidmouth due to unstable cliffs which could fall at any time."

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Dorset Council also issued a warning, stating that heat was causing rock expansions and making landslides more likely to occur.

The council said: “Heat causes rocks to expand and, particularly during temperature fluctuations, any pre-existing cracks can widen, and new cracks can also form. This makes cliffs potentially more unstable and rockfalls more likely to happen.”

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