A 26-year-old Chinese tourist died after the „Kissing Elephants” rock arch collapsed on him while he was riding a jet ski off the coast of Comino, Malta. The incident occurred when a 32-year-old American man jumped from the formation, causing its collapse. His female companion was injured and taken to hospital.
The arched rock formation, a natural landmark on the southeastern coast of Comino, was a popular attraction known for its resemblance to two elephants touching trunks. According to local news outlets Times of Malta and MaltaToday, the arch gave way under the weight of the American tourist as he leaped into the water. At that moment, the Chinese man and a 27-year-old woman from China were passing underneath on a jet ski. Both fell into the sea.
Search and rescue operation
Maltese authorities reported that the woman required medical assistance and was airlifted to a hospital. The American tourist sustained minor injuries. Rescue teams, including military divers, were deployed to search for the missing man. – (The divers later confirmed that they found a person trapped underwater who showed no signs of life) – stated a spokesperson for the Maltese Civil Protection Department.
The fragile beauty of natural arches
The „Kissing Elephants” arch was one of several natural limestone formations in the Maltese archipelago. Comino, the third-largest and least populated inhabited island, is famous for the Blue Lagoon with its white sandy beaches and turquoise waters. The collapse raises questions about the safety of such natural structures, which are subject to erosion and human impact.
This tragic event echoes a previous catastrophe: the collapse of the Azure Window on Gozo in 2017, another iconic limestone arch that fell after a storm. Local geologists have long warned that such formations are fragile and can be destabilized by weather or human activity.
Źródło: Polsat News, Fot. Polsat News
