A portion of a pier in northern California’s Santa Cruz collapsed into the Pacific Ocean on Monday, sending three city workers into the sea after high surf slammed the coast.
The Wharf, a public pier, is home to several restaurants in Santa Cruz, about 70 miles south of San Francisco. The pier was evacuated and closed to all emergency responders just after 1 p.m.
Two city workers were rescued by lifeguards and the third rescued themself, according to reporting by the Salinas Californian, part of the USA TODAY Network.
Video shows portion of Santa Cruz pier in Pacific Ocean
Construction crews for the city were tearing down a restaurant located on the Wharf, which had been damaged in a storm surge last December, when the collapse occurred, eyewitnesses shared with local CBS affiliate KION-TV.
The damaged section of the pier was closed to the public due to previous storm damage and no members of the public were present when the collapse occurred.
It was “the result of very strong waves crashing into it,” Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley said during a press conference, ABC News reported.
“We believe that everyone that went into the water is now accounted for and safe,” Keeley said.
‘Stay away from the Wharf,’ officials warn
About 150 feet at the end of the wharf, including a restroom and a recently renovated area, collapsed and construction equipment fell into the water from the sheer force of the tide, Tony Elliot, the director of Parks and Recreation for the city of Santa Cruz, told ABC News.
A $4 million restoration was underway at the wharf as a result of previous storm damage, Keely told ABC News.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has been briefed on the partial collapse of the Santa Cruz Wharf, with his press office writing in an X post that the state’s Office of Emergency Services was coordinating with local officials to provide support.
“Residents and visitors should avoid the area and follow local guidance,” the press office wrote.
The Wharf and surrounding beaches will be closed the public “until further notice,” with officials warning residents to stay away from the area and the beaches due to “hazardous debris” floating in the water, Santa Cruz Wharf wrote in a Facebook post.
“The ocean is not messing around today,” the post said. “These are life (and property) threatening conditions … 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 issued a “High Surf Warning” for the region, warning of a “dangerously large breaking waves of 30 to 40 feet, with the largest wave sets up to 60 feet at favored spots.” The NWS warning will remain effect until 6 p.m. local time on Tuesday.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Watch portion of Santa Cruz pier collapse into ocean amid heavy surf
