Firefighters search by boat at the base of the cliff from which a section collapsed near Miramar beach, killing one woman and leaving a diver missing, in Biarritz, south-western France, on June 25, 2026. Photo by PHILIPPE LOPEZ / AFP
Biarritz, France: A section of cliff collapsed in the French beach resort of Biarritz on Wednesday, killing one woman and leaving a diver missing, local authorities said.
The collapse came at around 8:20 pm (1820 GMT) near the Miramar beach, which was packed with swimmers seeking respite from a punishing heatwave.
"According to initial information, three divers from the region were in an area at the foot of the cliff at the time of the landslide," local authorities said in a statement.
Rescue divers search for a missing victim on the morning after a cliff collapse, in Biarritz, south-western France, on June 25, 2026. Photo by PHILIPPE LOPEZ / AFP
A woman's body was recovered shortly before 11:00 pm, while another person remained missing. Search efforts were called off before midnight and will resume in the morning.
The third diver, physically unhurt but in shock, was taken care of by emergency services.
Locals said the area of cliff that collapsed, beneath the town's lighthouse, was only accessible from the sea.
A local association that looks after the cliff said there had been previous collapses in 2008 and 2018.
