13 February 2024
The iconic and famous rock formation of Bako National Park known as The Cobra Head Sea Stack collapsed today. It was first reported by a park guide, Mr Paul at 4.00 pm today. The collapse of this iconic sea stack was most probably caused by big waves experienced on site. The recent big waves were the final act of erosion which had been happening to this coast of Sarawak for millions of years.
This sea stack held great significance as one of the country’s geological treasures, formed from sandstone over millions of years through the process of erosion. Its unique formation had captivated visitors, sculpting the rocky headland into exquisitely shaped sea stacks and sea arches that never failed to mesmerize tourists.
Tuan Abang Arabi bin Abg Aimran, the CEO of SFC, expressed shock and sadness upon hearing the news. He emphasized the sea stack’s importance not only in its natural beauty but also in its contribution to the local tourism industry, particularly for boat operators at Bako National Park. He further commented that many had enjoyed watching nature’s beauty and that we should always admire and not take for granted such gifts. Nature’s gifts sometimes can be restored and sometimes are irreplaceable. A similar set of iconic sea arches and sea stacks off Victoria, Australia, called the 12 Apostles also saw such eventual collapses. Currently, there are only 8 pillars or arches left out of the original 12.