A portion of the 1960s-era mural of the famous Dolphins wall painting at the Minoan Palace of Knossos – luckily a replica of the original – collapsed on Friday due to gale force winds plaguing Crete.

Earlier, the archaeological site – one of the most popular in Greece – was evacuated and shut for precautionary reasons.

The original depiction, restored by renowned British archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans is on display at the Irakleio (Heraklion) archaeological museum.

According to local media reports, at the time of the collapse, around noon, some 300 visitors inside the archaeological site.

The replica mural, in east wing of the palace, was built of plaster and comprised of three parts, two of which fell and sustained damages.