A woman was reportedly killed when her house collapsed in a landslip in Looe, Cornwall, on Friday 22 March 2013. She has been named as Susan Norman, a 68-year-old grandmother who lived in one of three single-occupancy flats inside the property. The house collapsed slightly before 6.00 am, but it was not until 1.15 pm that the Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service determined the property was sufficiently structurally sound for searchers and rescue dogs to enter. A body was removed at about 6.00 pm. A further 15 people have been evacuated from neighboring properties, and several roads and a railway line in the area are closed to traffic.
Police and Fire Fighters at the scene of the house collapse on 22 March. James Dadzitis/SWNS.
The landslip occurred following heavy rainfall, which apparently weakened the rock under the house. Residents had apparently complained to Cornwall Council about blocked drains which were causing a build-up of standing water in the road, and which has been linked to smaller landslips in the area in January and December.
See also At least six killed by West Java landslide, Landslip at Bowleaze Cove, Dorset, Monmouth Beach, Lyme, closed due to danger of landslips, Woman killed by rockfall on Dorset Beach and Section of White Cliffs of Dover collapses into the sea.
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