Coastal visitors warned after rocks fall into sea

No-one was hurt after the incident, although local police did evacuate one family from the area early in the morning, according to local news reports, as the children were reportedly playing close to rocks that were at particular risk of falling, several dozen metres from the end of the embankment promenade walking area.

Etretat - part of La Côte d’Albâtre (the Alabaster Coast), along with its cliffs (les falaises d'Etretat) - attracts a significant proportion of visitors each year, and is popular with walkers, amateur fishermen, and photographers (and was also a favourite destination of famous painters such as Gustave Courbet and Claude Monet).

Such incidents take place relatively frequently in coastal areas, but each time, authorities seek to warn visitors to take extreme care when climbing rocks and walking out on to non-sheltered areas of the rocks, and to respect all warnings and signposts.

The local municipal police has, through local newspaper France Bleu, taken the opportunity to remind visitors of the potential dangers when visiting the area.

“It is essential to respect the safety rules, to stay on the trails and not to walk along cliffs or immediately at the foot of cliffs," the warning reads.

“The risk of landslides or falling rocks is real and frequent and similar events can be expected in the coming weeks."