World-famous Malta rock formation (and Game of Thrones location) ‘Azure Window’ collapses into sea

A famous natural arch in Malta, which featured in the Game of Thrones, has collapsed.

The world-renowned Azure Window, a major tourist attraction, was lost after heavy storms.

The country’s prime minister Joseph Muscat called the collapse “heartbreaking”.

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The Azure Window was a limestone arch found Dwejra Bay on Gozo, one of the main islands in Malta.

But instead of an arch, photos taken today showed the arch and the two stacks either side of it had given away.

“Reports commissioned over the years indicated that this landmark would be hard hit by unavoidable natural corrosion. That sad day arrived,” said Mr Muscat.

As well as being a major tourist attraction, the arch featured prominently in the television series of the Games of Thrones as a cliff-jumping location.

It’s collapse though was not unexpected.

The authorities knew that at some point it would be washed away by erosion and the weather.

Four years ago, a government study found that erosion was inevitable although it concluded there was no imminent danger of collapse.

However, last year the Maltese government prohibited anybody from walking across the arch and enforced a fine of around £1,200.