Story By: Jonathan Macias, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News 

VideoCredit: CEN/@marty.juarez.94

This is the moment a tourist boat flees from a landslide that took place on the cliff face of a famous Mexican canyon and caused a huge cloud of dust and debris.

The landslip was filmed at the Sumidero Canyon in the nature park of the same name in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas.

In the widely-shared video, a boat is seen approaching the canyon as a large section of the cliff face tumbles into the water and sends a cloud of dust high into the air.

A woman is heard saying: “Let’s get away from here.”

Then the boat is seen turning around and sailing away from the growing dust cloud.

Stunned tourists in life jackets are seen filming the natural phenomenon as the boat sails safely away.

According to the Civil Protection secretary of Chiapas, landslides are common in the area due to the energy released from shifting tectonic plates.

The local authorities reportedly carry out periodical checks to assess the risk of landslips at the popular canyon.

According to local media, boat trips have been temporarily cancelled at the nature park while other tourist activities are currently being evaluated.

No one was reported injured during the incident.

The formation of the Sumidero Canyon dates back to the same time as the Grand Canyon in the US state of Arizona following a shift in the earth’s crust and the erosion caused by the Grijalva River which still runs through it.

The Sumidero Canyon National Park covers an area of 21,789 hectares (53,840 acres) and the canyon walls reach as high as 1,000 metres (3,300 feet).

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