VALLETTA, March 8 (Xinhua) -- The beautiful Azure Window on the island of Gozo, an iconic tourist attraction in Malta, had collapsed, Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said Wednesday.
"Reports commissioned over the years indicated that this landmark would be hard hit by unavoidable natural corrosion. That sad day arrived," Muscat said in a tweet.
Earlier in the day, local media reported that nature had claimed this historic site, saying not just the top part collapsed, but even the stacks had gone.
Geological experts had predicted the impending end of the Azure Window, which was formed naturally over a period of thousands of years, in a natural way due to cracks in the rock formation.
The limestone natural arch near Dwejra Bay in Gozo had been made famous around the world and featured in several films as well as the popular TV series Game of Thrones.
The Azure Window was also a popular tourist destination, attracting thousands of visitors each year.
