Italy’s ‘Lovers’ Arch’ collapses into the sea on Valentine’s Day | World News

A famous rock structure on the Italian coast known ‌as the ‘Lovers’ Arch’ collapsed on Valentine’s Day after days of bad weather.

The natural arch, part of the Sant’Andrea sea stacks ​in ‌the southern region of Puglia on Italy’s Adriatic coast, is a popular spot for marriage proposals and tourists.

Maurizio Cisternino, mayor of the nearby town of Melendugno, told the local ​Corriere Salentino newspaper the collapse was “an unwanted Valentine’s Day gift” and “a ⁠very hard blow” for the ⁠area’s image and for tourism.

He said the fragile coastline had been battered by days of heavy rain, strong winds ‌and rough seas, adding that “nature has taken back what it created”.

The arch was “one of Italy’s most Instagrammed sites”, according to Travel and Tour World.

There are fears for other parts of the rocky coastline, with cracks visible along the cliff, underscoring the growing threat of coastal erosion.

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Storms ⁠and heavy rain in recent days ​have also eaten away at long stretches ​of coastline on the Ionian Sea, from ​Ugento to the beaches of Gallipoli, damaging beach structures, ⁠causing small cliff falls and harming ports.

Weeks of terrible weather this year has also caused damage estimated at ⁠well over a billion euros ​in southern Italy, including a landslide that has forced more than 1,500 people to evacuate their homes in the Sicilian town ‌of Niscemi.