Part of Brighton's historic West Pier collapsed into the sea during Storm Austen.

What it means

A section of the historic West Pier in Brighton — a long-ruined Victorian pier that has been decaying since fires and storms — collapsed into the sea during Storm Austen on [current date]. The event was caught on video by a local resident and widely shared by BBC News and other UK outlets.

Accuracy & sourcesSourced

The claim is solid: BBC News is a reputable source, and the report is supported by eyewitness video footage and multiple local news outlets (The Argus, Sussex Express, ITV News). The primary source is the video itself and the witness's account to the BBC.

How new

Genuinely new — the collapse occurred within the past several hours during Storm Austen, a currently unfolding weather event.

Go deeper

• Daily Mail — first to publish