The threat of high waves and flooding continues along the California coast, with residents on high alert a day after a massive storm reportedly killed one man and caused part of a pier to collapse, plunging three people into the Pacific Ocean. continued.
Two other men also remained missing Tuesday, one of them presumed dead after being swept into the ocean off central California, and the U.S. Coast Guard in the Los Angeles area said earlier in the day that A search is underway for the remaining two people after their boat was found capsized.
The National Weather Service warned on Christmas Eve of dangerous large, breaking waves of up to 35 feet (10.7 meters). The latest high surf warning remains in effect until 6pm on Tuesday.
“Large waves could hit the coast without warning, dragging people off rocks, piers and beaches into the sea,” the Bureau of Meteorology said in its Christmas Eve bulletin.
In Santa Cruz, where a municipal pier under construction partially collapsed on Monday, most of the coast was closed due to flooding from high waves and debris.
Residents received a notice on their phones Tuesday morning telling them to “avoid all beaches, including coastal overlook areas such as rocks, piers and cliffs.” It warned that strong waves could unexpectedly sweep across the entire coast.
Local officials said further damage to the pier was possible, but no further debris was thrown overnight.
The pier collapsed and fell into the sea at midday on Monday, trapping three people. Two people were rescued by lifeguards, and the third person swam to safety. No one was seriously injured.
A high surf advisory remains in effect for coastal areas of Ventura County. Lauren Coronado reports on NBC4 on Dec. 24, 2024 at 11 a.m.
Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley said officials need to evaluate long-term solutions to protect coastal cities from the effects of climate change in the coming weeks and months.
“Hallelujah that no one was hurt in this incident. It could have been much worse in terms of injuries to people and damage to property on land and at sea,” he said at a press conference on Tuesday. There is,” he said.
“But I think as time goes on, we’re going to have some question marks,” he added. “And I think we’re not alone. I think coastal communities around the world are probably dealing with this.”
The building was in the midst of a $4 million renovation after last winter’s devastating storms about 70 miles (112 kilometers) south of San Francisco.
“It’s a disaster for the people at the end of the pier,” said David Johnston, who was allowed onto the pier on Monday to check on the status of his venture, Venture Quest Kayak. .
Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation Director Tony Elliott estimated that about 150 feet (45 meters) of the end of the pier fell into the water. It will be removed immediately and remain closed indefinitely.
Some of the pier’s pilings are still underwater and remain a “significant danger” to boats, the mayor said. Each pile weighs several hundred pounds and is pushed by powerful waves.
“You are risking your life and the lives of those trying to save you by going into or too close to the water,” the National Weather Service Bay Area office said on social Platform X. .
Building inspectors were inspecting the remaining structural integrity of the pier.
Some California cities ordered evacuations of beachfront homes and hotels early Monday afternoon as forecasters warned that the storm’s swells would continue to increase throughout the day.
In Watsonville, along Monterey Bay, first responders were called to the Sunset State Beach state park around 11:30 a.m. Monday for a report of a man trapped under debris. The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office believes a large wave pinned him there. The man was confirmed dead at the hospital.
Another man may have been pulled into the Pacific Ocean by the storm’s high waves at Marina State Beach, about 13 miles (21 kilometers) south of Watsonville, about noon Monday, authorities said. Strong currents and high waves worsened the situation, forcing searchers to abandon their search after about two hours. The man remained missing Monday night.
Further south in Carmel Bay, a man remained missing as of Tuesday afternoon, local emergency officials said after reports of someone being swept off a rock into the ocean at Pebble Beach on Monday. did. The Coast Guard will “move on to search operations as maritime conditions improve over the next few days,” officials said in a statement, adding that the man is presumed dead due to rough sea conditions.
The Coast Guard searched for two people Tuesday after an overturned vessel was discovered off the coast of the Palos Verdes Peninsula south of Los Angeles. They had previously reported delays from the trip when the boat was discovered.
