A diver has been killed and another is missing after a cliff edge collapsed and smashed onto a popular beach in southwest France. The incident occurred near Miramar beach in Biarritz at approximately 8:20 pm local time on June 24, 2026, during a record heatwave affecting France and western Europe. The cliff, estimated at around 2,000 cubic tonnes, suddenly fell into the Atlantic Ocean, leaving divers only seconds to react.
Search and rescue efforts
Search and rescue teams are scouring the sea for the missing diver, who is feared dead. Two divers were buried under several tonnes of rocks and falling debris when the landslide struck. One diver escaped unhurt, while the body of a woman was found hours later. The beach has been cordoned off and closed to the public while the safety of the remaining cliffs is assessed.
Eyewitness accounts
Beachgoer Quentin Alberola told France Info: 'There was a thunderous sound, like an explosion, you could say. Everything collapsed, and a wave crashed onto the beach.' Vincent Pariset, a receptionist who was paddleboarding with his daughter, described the noise as 'deafening.' He told AFP: 'We were quite scared because we saw a whole section of the cliff collapse under the lighthouse, and it created a really impressive spray of water.' He added there were no warning signs before the collapse.
Official response
Pyrénées-Atlantiques department officials urged the public to 'avoid the affected area, which is strictly off-limits until further notice. Do not hinder rescue operations.' The cliff surrounds the Phare de Biarritz, an iconic lighthouse built in 1834 during the city's heyday as a major summer resort frequented by European royalty.
