Kayaker says she spotted crack two weeks ago in Comino arch that collapsed

Updated 5.55pm

A kayaker has described how, two weeks ago, she spotted a crack in a natural arch which collapsed in Comino on Saturday evening, killing a tourist.

Michelle Attard Tonna had been kayaking in the area just two weeks ago. She told Times of Malta that kayakers and jet skiers would pass underneath the arch every day, especially since there were no signs warning people not to approach the rock.

However, it was clear that the arch was vulnerable, she said.

She said she noticed a crack in the rock when she last passed through, and it seemed like a collapse was bound to happen.

She also confirmed that it was a popular spot for trekkers, who would access the arch from land and take photos on the top.

The arch was a lesser-known but treasured corner of the island, prized by snorkellers and boat charters for its seclusion and clear water, according to a tour operator who worked the area for years.

A spokesperson for Outdoor Explorers Malta, which offers boat tours around Comino, described the arch as “a bit of a niche spot, but iconic for those who knew about it”.

He said boat charters would regularly travel to it so passengers could photograph the formation. Meanwhile, snorkellers would seek out the area as the marine life there was noticeably better than at the heavily visited Blue Lagoon or Crystal Lagoon elsewhere on Comino.

He likened the loss to the collapse of the Azure Window, the celebrated Gozo landmark that fell during a storm in March 2017. He said the Comino site would remain beautiful for snorkellers and kayakers, but the disappearance of the arch itself would likely dent its appeal.

The arch sat beneath Santa Marija Battery, in a hard-to-reach area of the island. There were no signs warning people against approaching the arch or walking along the top of it.

To access the arch, one would have to climb down from the Santa Marija Battery or climb up from near the sea. Photo: Daniel Cilia.

Unstable rocks around Malta’s coast have been an increasing source of concern, with several spots fenced off in recent years.

A site at St Peter’s Pool near Delimara was closed off last month after people raised alarm on social media.

Parts off Għar Lapsi were also closed off after Storm Harry earlier this year, and a fence was erected at Fomm ir-Riħ because of rock collapses.

In March, Transport Malta warned kayakers and small boat users to keep a safe distance from the Valletta Quarry Wharf area because of a continued risk of falling rocks.

Parts of Mġiebaħ, Selmun, were also closed off last year.

Lessons from Marsascala tragedy forgotten

22-year-old Mirabelle Falzon was killed on July 19, 2024, while swimming at a popular spot in an area known as Munxar, in the limits of St Thomas Bay, in Marsascala. The area was later fenced off. 

But adventure enthusiast Conrad Neil Gatt on Sunday took to Facebook on Sunday to complain that the lessons learnt from Falzon's tragic death appeared to have been forgotten.

He uploaded a recent video showing boats sailing underneath the Comino arch and said that instead of advising caution, Transport Malta and the Malta Tourism Authority appeared to have been encouraging more Maltese and tourists to visit such areas.

He pointed out that just five days ago he uploaded a video from the Marsascala site where Falzon died, pointing to the persistent danger and the fact that no warning signs had been posted this year. 

He urged the authorities to work with geologists to identify and fence off sites which posed an imminent danger.  He also called for an awareness campaign about such dangers.