Terrifying aerial images show huge landslip in coastal town as locals evacuated

16 November 2023 , 18:09

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One resident said "huge lumps" of rubble came "thundering down" (Image: Adam Gerrard / Daily Mirror)

Residents were evacuated after a major landslip in St Leonards-on-Sea “tore” their homes apart “like a piece of paper” last night.

Aerial images show the devastating landslip in the coastal East Sussex town, showing the horrific extent of destruction caused by the landslip yesterday night (November 15). In a large operation, emergency services evacuated multiple families from their home to avoid the “perilous” landslip which was likely to demolish their houses.

The landslide occurred between West Hill at the top, and Marina right on the seafront at the bottom. It comes after 13 properties on the same two streets were evacuated earlier this month due to two landslides.

A Victorian building was "torn" apart like "paper" (Adam Gerrard / Daily Mirror)

The images show where the ground has collapsed and the lumps of debris which were charging towards the homes - sat on a decline. They show a conservatory right on the edge of the bottom of a cliff which has now been crushed, with only brick and glass debris remaining scattered in the area.

One resident, Jaco, said a historic Victorian building in the area had been “engulfed with loose mud and concrete” and “absolutely destroyed”. The building used to be used as a billiards room, which another resident said “tore open like a piece of paper”.

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The other resident told BBC Radio Sussex that the situation was “perilous” and “huge lumps” of rubble had come “thundering down” towards the houses and land below “like a wrecking ball”. Residents now say they don’t feel safe in their homes following the colossal land collapse - one said she feels "anxious" not knowing what will happen next following the "frightening" situation.

The landslide came crashing down towards this conservatory (BBC)

The landslide smashed through buildings at the bottom of the hill (BBC)

East Sussex Fire and Rescue said families had to be evacuated when the damage had been assessed due to the risk of further landlips, according to MailOnline. A spokesperson said: “We were called at 8.39pm to reports of a landslip between Marina at the bottom of a cliff and West Hill Road at the top of a cliff in St Leonards.”

“Crews liaised with the local council and building control experts. A number of properties at the top of the cliff were evacuated,” it concluded. A Hastings Borough Council spokesperson said: "We are now waiting for a full report from the structural engineers and risk assessments have been carried out to ensure the safety of residents."

Alex Croft