Kent homes evacuated after partial cliff collapse

Residents of a Kent village have been forced to flee their homes after part of a nearby cliff fell into the sea.

Twenty homes were evacuated from Surf Crescent in Eastchurch, on the Isle of Sheppey, after residents heard the earth ‘creaking’ beneath them before a section of cliff fell away.

One resident, Malcolm Newell, said his neighbours in Cliffhanger Cottage told him about the collapse.

“When I went round there before, the house was making noises and creaking. The family moved into a bungalow they have behind Cliffhanger because they didn’t feel safe,” he told the Kent Messenger.

“Then they heard a crash and a whole section of the cliff had disappeared – more than 2 metres wide and about 15 metres across. Part of the road has gone and you can’t drive round there any more.”

Kent fire and rescue service KFRS attended on Friday night and reported that a “large section of the cliff edge had fallen away, leaving a number of properties at potential risk”.

There were no reported injuries and residents in 18 of the properties have since been allowed to return home. Surf Crescent remains closed to traffic.

KFRS said: “Members of the public have been asked to stay away from the area due to the direct danger of further cliff collapse. There are a number of road and footpath closures in the area and a large section of the beach close to the affected area of cliff has also been closed for the time being.”