Major rock fall occurs near Grand Atlantic site

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 19: A dramatic new rock fall off South Shore in Warwick has prompted fresh concerns about the safety of the cliffs.

A large section of the cliff face just east of the Grand Atlantic development fell away before Tropical Leslie hit the island.

It’s the second major fall along the same stretch in the last couple of months after a large section of rock on Southlands Beach collapsed.

And it has sparked new calls for caution from environmental experts.

Stuart Hayward, chairman of the Bermuda Environmental Sustainability Taskforce, told the Sun: “This most recent fall is a significant rock fall.

“The volume of rock that has come away from the cliff face is immense.

“This section of coastline along the South Shore is the most vulnerable to wave action.

“Even before any heavy weather from Hurricane Leslie, large sections of rock eroded and fell from the cliff face at the Grand Atlantic site as shown in the photos.

“While it is difficult to predict the timing of such a rock fall, the incidence of rock falls at such a site is inevitable, presenting not only a threat to buildings atop the cliff but also serious danger to people who might be on the beach at the time such an avalanche occurs.”

Government has consistently maintained that the Grand Atlantic development is completely safe and cliff-strengthening measures will ensure the cliff face under the low-cost housing blocks will withstand sea erosion.

The Bermuda Sun contacted the Public Works Department about this latest rock fall on South Shore, to the east of the Grand Atlantic, but we did not receive a comment.