Malta's prime minister has not ruled out trying to rebuild the country's famed Azure Window, which collapsed into the sea during heavy storms.

Speaking to Sky News, Joseph Muscat said an "international initiative" will see "what the future holds" after the famous landmark was destroyed.

He said it would look at a "number of options", adding: "We are being proactive."

When asked by presenter Adam Boulton if the arch could be rebuilt, Mr Muscat replied: "I'm not saying necessarily that."

Image: The Maltese PM tweeted a photo showing the view, minus the landmark

The prime minister admitted there was a "great deal of local and international interest" in the 50m-high limestone arch on the island of Gozo, in Dwejra Bay, which had attracted thousands of tourists a year.


He said: "There are many, many people who are interested in what can happen after this huge, incredible landmark disappeared."

One Gozo resident who witnessed the storm this week described the arch collapsing into the sea "with a loud whoomph, throwing up a huge spray".

Image: The Azure Window featured in Game Of Thrones

Formed millions of years ago, when two limestone sea caves collapsed to form the arch, there is now no visible rock left above sea level.

A geological study in 2013 concluded that while natural erosion was inevitable, the formation was not in imminent danger of collapsing.

It had been believed that it would survive for decades to come.

Image: Tourists walk near the Azure Window prior to the collapse

The precarious arch had been popular with cliff divers and thrill-seeking tourists keen to film themselves jumping from the bridge.

Wear and tear from human erosion had prompted a recent ban on walking over the bridge, with a penalty fine of more than £1,000.

As well as being photographed by tourists from around the world, the geological wonder appeared in several films including Clash Of The Titans (1981) and The Count Of Monte Cristo (2002), as well as the first season of Game of Thrones, which is on Sky Atlantic.