An iconic Maltese natural rock arch, known as the Azure¹ Window because it arched over blue seas popular with divers², collapsed³ into the Mediterranean⁴ Sea last Wednesday as Malta was hit by rough seas and stormy weather.

由于遭遇狂风巨浪，马耳他一座地标性天然石拱上周三坍塌，落入地中海。这座石拱因拱悬于蔚蓝色的海面上而被称为"蓝窗"，这片海域深受潜水者的青睐。

Malta's Prime Minister Joseph Muscat called the news "heartbreaking".

马耳他总理约瑟夫·穆斯卡特称这则消息"令人心碎"。

"Reports commissioned over the years indicated that this landmark⁵ would be hard hit by unavoidable natural corrosion," he said on Twitter. "That sad day has arrived."

他在推特上写道：“近年来委托的报告都提到了，这个地标性建筑会受到不可避免的自然腐蚀。悲伤的一天已经到来了。”

The structure was featured in countless⁶ Malta tourism brochures and the first episode of the HBO series "Game of Thrones", as well as the movie, "Clash of The Titans".

不计其数的马耳他旅游手册中都介绍了"蓝窗"，HBO电视剧《权力的游戏》第一集、电影《诸神之战》曾在此取景。

Geologists⁷ had long warned that the structure, on the northwestern coast of the island of Gozo, was eroding⁸ fast and authorities had banned visitors from walking on top of it.

地质学家早就警告称，坐落于戈佐岛西北海岸线的"蓝窗"正在被快速侵蚀，有关部门已禁止游客在"蓝窗"顶部行走。

Officials had recently introduced signs and a fine to stop people from walking across the landmark but they were often ignored.

为了阻止游客在这个地标景点上行走，最近官方已树立标识并实施罚款制度，但游客经常置之不理。