eroded

"If the ice underneath is rotten - eroded by salt - it'll crumble away under stress and maybe drift somewhere more shallow," says Prof Meijers.

His words remained defiant but his strength eroded.

Ms Sironka felt that women's rights were being eroded around the world - especially as women in the US lost the constitutional right to abortion in 2022, which also influenced her decision.

Officials remain concerned the eroded land and rocks could fall even as the area dries out.

This self-image has been eroded in recent years, however, by a string of revelations about past high-handedness in dealing with the island's population.