Filfla appeared noticeably altered today after Storm Harry caused a significant collapse along the eastern side of the small islet off Malta's south coast. Photographs taken by the Facebook page Dwardu Photography show that a substantial section has broken away, leaving behind a newly formed sheer cliff where solid rock once stood.

Completely exposed to the elements, Filfla has long been shaped by powerful seas and erosion. Its vulnerability is compounded by its past use as a military target range by the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force until 1971. Unexploded ordnance from these exercises remains scattered on and around the islet, further underlining its hazardous nature.

Although largely barren, Filfla has been protected as a bird reserve since 1980 and plays a role in wider ecological systems. Environmental observers have warned that continued erosion could eventually lead to the islet's disappearance, with serious consequences for species that depend on it.

Filfla was not the only area affected by Storm Harry, which reached its peak on Tuesday. In Għar Lapsi, Siġġiewi, directly opposite the islet, the storm destroyed a platform frequently used by swimmers, along with the lower section of a slipway and a set of steps leading down to the cave.