Public urged to avoid cliffs at Shark Hole, St Philip

Members of the public are being urged to avoid the immediate area surrounding the collapsed section of the coastal cliffs at Shark Hole, St Philip.

This appeal has come from Director of the Natural Resources Department (NRD) of the Ministry of Energy and Business, Jamar White, who said that following the reports of the collapse on Wednesday, May 14, a team of geologists from the NRD visited the site at Shark Hole to inspect the area.

White stated: “The scale and nature of the event are indicative of the potential for coastal erosion and failure in the area. The remaining cliff sections adjacent to the collapsed zone exhibit prominent fractures, dislodged blocks of limestone rock, and unstable overhangs, which pose an immediate and ongoing threat of further cliff failure and serious bodily harm or injury.

“Furthermore, wave action continues to impact the freshly exposed cliff face at its base, promoting the resumption of undercutting and increasing the risk of secondary collapse. These dynamic conditions, combined with the inherently karstic nature of the coastal limestone, mean that further instability may occur without warning.”

The Director explained that during his team’s inspection of the area, they observed that a large section of the cliff, approximately four metres wide by 15 metres long, had collapsed into the ocean.

There is great concern that sections of the collapsed area still contain large fractures, loose boulders and wedged rock masses that are still highly susceptible to further collapse and instability.

“Large waves were also pounding against the collapsed rock mass and the freshly exposed cliff face, creating an additional safety hazard within the immediate area,” White pointed out.

He assured that the NRD would continue to monitor the site in collaboration with other key stakeholders. He reiterated that the public should exercise caution, comply with any restrictions or warnings posted in the area, and avoid going close to the collapsed zone or cliff edge. (PR)