Santa Cruz Wharf Collapse
Santa Cruz Wharf Collapse At least one person has been killed in a tragic pre-holiday storm that caused a section of California’s well-known Santa Cruz Wharf to collapse into the ocean.
According to a news release the Santa Cruz Fire Department (SCFD) put on Facebook, crews were sent to the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf on Monday, December 23 after learning that the end of the pier had “collapsed into the ocean.”
According to the caller, three construction workers were on the area that collapsed into the ocean when it happened. Fire officials reported that two of the victims were saved by lifeguards, while the third managed to free themselves.
There were no serious injuries reported, and everyone who entered the water during the collapse has been accounted for, city officials said at a press conference shortly after the incident occurred.
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According to witness Landon Ky, he and a friend heard the pier “cracking” and felt it “swinging a lot” just before it collapsed, as reported by KSBW. “We kind of waved it off, and then probably within the next five minutes, the whole thing crashed into the water,” Ky said.
The fall also included a restaurant and a lavatory building that crashed into the water.
According to fire officials, the wharf “will be closed until further notice.” However, they noted that “due to ongoing construction,” the area has been off-limits to the public since January.
A high surf advisory and “the large amounts of debris, including potentially hazardous materials released during the incident” have also led to the closure of Main Beach and Cowell’s Beach. Conditions in the area “will remain dangerous through noon on Tuesday, Dec. 24,” according to the SCFD.
“Please avoid all coastal areas, including overlook areas like rocks, jetties, or cliffs, due to life-threatening ocean conditions,” the SCFD stated. “Entire beaches can suddenly be swept by strong, dangerous waves.” Avoid going into the water and avoiding flooded streets.
In order “to help ensure everyone’s safety,” fire officials also urged the public to spread the word.
According to The Associated Press, the wharf collapse occurred amid a storm that hit parts of the West Coast with hurricane-force winds. According to the outlet, at least one person has already died as a result of the storm, and another is still unaccounted for.
A man was killed on Monday after becoming trapped under rubble on a Watsonville beach near Monterey Bay. According to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, they think he was pinned there by waves. At a hospital, he was declared dead.
According to the AP, excessive surf in the region also caused another guy to be “likely pulled” into the ocean at Marina State Beach. Searchers had to end their investigation “as conditions worsened” on Monday.
