More than 100 feet of the Santa Cruz Pier collapsed into the Pacific Ocean and three people fell into the ocean as dangerous high waves battered the coastal city on Monday.
A city employee and two contractors were at the tip of the pier checking the pier’s stability and durability against rough waves when about 150 feet of the pier collapsed, plunging the workers into the cold water. city officials said at a press conference. Two of them were rescued by area lifeguards, while the third was able to safely evacuate on his own.
Video from the Northern California city showed part of the pier floating in the water.
The incident occurred as dangerous high waves were expected to occur along the region’s coasts, including Point Reyes National Seashore, the San Francisco Peninsula coast, Monterey Bay and the Big Sur coast, according to the National Weather Service. The heavy waves are the result of a series of atmospheric river events that are bringing heavy rain to Northern California, Oregon, and Washington.
Similar weather last winter caused significant damage to the nearby Capitola and Seacliff piers.
Santa Cruz City Manager Matt Huffaker said city officials were expecting strong waves and dangerous conditions from the atmospheric river event, and that due to climate change, actual weather conditions were worse than what city officials had prepared for. He said it continues to become dangerous.
“We have more winter seasons than winter seasons,” Hafucker said. “Every year, it has significantly exceeded our expectations.”
Gov. Gavin Newsom has also been briefed on the partial collapse, his office said in a statement on social media.
Santa Cruz city officials have issued a warning to residents, warning that dangerous conditions are expected at beaches, including strong rip currents and powerful waves that could “drag even the strongest swimmers out to sea.” I was doing it.
Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation Director Tony Elliott said the end of the pier had already been closed to the public as the city worked on renovations and weather recovery efforts over the past two years.
On Monday afternoon, the city’s parks and recreation project manager and two contractors were in the restricted area when a portion of the pier collapsed at 12:45 p.m.
Santa Cruz Fire Chief Robert Orty said watercraft crews who were already patrolling the area were able to rescue the two people from the water.
A total of three people were taken to a nearby hospital as a precautionary measure, but authorities said they suffered only minor injuries.
The collapse also destroyed construction equipment and a toilet building. Much of it was floating in the ocean south and east of the city, but conditions were too dangerous to collect, officials said. Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley said the city will work with other jurisdictions as conditions allow for the tracking and collection of debris from bodies of water.
City officials had cut off all access to the pier by 1 p.m., and pedestrian traffic was also cut off due to the partial collapse.
Waves 30 to 40 feet high are expected to hit the region’s coasts on Monday, according to the National Weather Service. The high surf warning is expected to remain in effect until 6 p.m. Tuesday, with waves reaching up to 60 feet in some areas.
Officials said the strong waves pose a life-threatening situation for swimmers and surfers and could submerge beaches.
“Large waves can cross the beach without warning and drag people off rocks, piers and beaches into the ocean,” the warning said. “Everyone should stay away from the ocean due to life-threatening wave conditions.”
Officials from city buildings, public works, police and fire departments are responding to assess the damage, but officials expect the entire pier to be cordoned off until further notice.
