Overview
- A large section of cliff—about 2,000 m²—fell into the sea near the Miramar beach and Biarritz lighthouse on Wednesday evening, hitting three divers and sending a wave into the crowded water.
- Rescuers recovered the body of a woman within hours and one diver remains missing while a third was found uninjured but in shock; rescue operations were suspended overnight for safety.
- Firefighters, specialized dive teams and a gendarmerie helicopter led the search, which will only restart after geological experts confirm the cliff is stable to avoid further collapses.
- The mayor and prefecture immediately closed the sector, banned bathing and navigation within 300 metres of the cliff, and investigators including the prosecutor were notified on site.
- Local groups and officials point to long‑running coastal erosion and past collapses at the same stretch of coast, raising questions about long‑term public access and safety measures for the shoreline.