California wharf collapses after heavy surf from major storm

Santa Cruz: Two people were rescued and a third swam to safety after a California pier under construction partially collapsed and fell into the ocean on Tuesday (AEDT) as the state’s central coast was pounded by heavy surf from a major storm, authorities said.

Residents were warned to stay away from low-lying areas near the beaches around the Santa Cruz Wharf, about 112 kilometres south of San Francisco, as the storm rapidly gained strength.

“You are risking your life, and those of the people that would need to try and save you by getting in or too close to the water,” the National Weather Service’s Bay Area office said on the social platform X.

Lifeguards rescued two people from the water, officials with Santa Cruz Fire Department said. No one had serious injuries, Mayor Fred Keeley said.

The mayor said the section of the wharf that collapsed had been damaged over time. The structure was closed and in the middle of a $US4 million ($6 million) renovation following storms last winter.

The remnants of a restaurant float at the head of the San Lorenzo River in Santa Cruz, California.Credit: AP

“It’s a catastrophe for those down at the end of the wharf,” said David Johnston, owner of Venture Quest Kayaking, who was allowed onto the pier to check on his business.

Tony Elliot, the head of the Santa Cruz Parks & Recreation Department, estimated that about 45 metres of the end of the wharf fell into the water around 12.45pm, local time. It was immediately evacuated and will remain closed indefinitely.

Some of the wharf’s pilings are still in the ocean and remain “serious, serious hazards” to boats, the mayor said. Each piling weighs hundreds of pounds and is being pushed by powerful waves.

Governor Gavin Newsom has been briefed and the state’s Office of Emergency Services is co-ordinating with local officials, his office said.

Forecasters warned that storm swells will increase throughout the day.

“We are anticipating that what is coming toward us is more serious than what was there this morning,” the mayor said.

Ocean swells along California’s central coast could reach 18 metres as the Pacific storm gains strength, the weather service said.

“A rapidly developing storm will bring hurricane-force winds to the areas well offshore of the Pacific Northwest tonight,” the weather service’s Ocean Prediction Centre said on X.

Bystanders looks out at a closed Santa Cruz wharf after the pier partially collapsed and fell into the ocean in Santa Cruz, California.Credit: AP

The end of the pier that broke off, which included public restrooms and the closed Dolphin restaurant, floated about half a kilometre down the coast and wedged itself at the bottom of the San Lorenzo River.

Those who fell into the water were two engineers and a project manager who were inspecting the end of the wharf, officials said. No members of the public were in the area.

Monday’s collapse came about a year after the Seacliff State Beach pier just down the coast was battered beyond repair by a heavy winter storm.

AP

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