Maltese filming location for Game of Thrones damaged

A large slab at the base of one of cliffs of the limestone natural arch in Malta Azure Window has been broken off, local media reported on Saturday.

The Maltese islands have recently been hit by very strong winds that have brought about rough seas. Earlier this week seven people were rescued after being swept at sea.

The Azure Window is a natural limestone cave that was formed after two limestone sea caves collapsed. It is one of the Malta' most distinctive sites, and has also been featured in the popular television series Game of Thrones.

The iconic site attracts thousands of tourists every year. However, there have been concerns raised over its future due to erosion and illegal diving.

Aerial photos taken earlier this year have shown visible cracks in the rocks, as well as chunks of rock falling off.

In a bid to preserve this site, walking across its arch is now forbidden and anyone who is caught trespassing is subject to a fine.

Despite the ban, a tourist filmed himself jumping off the cliff last month and chunks of rock collapsed in the process. The Gozo Tourism Association and the San Lawrenz council earlier this year said they lacked the resources needed to monitor the area adequately.

Whilst a geological rock assessment by the Environment Ministry held in 2013 said the structure is not facing imminent collapse, it concluded that further erosion however is inevitable. As much as 90 percent of the outer layer has been estimated to have eroded over the past 30 years. Enditem