A section of a California wharf gave way amid high surf on Monday, plunging three city workers into the water, according to officials.
All three workers are now safe and accounted for after the partial collapse of the Santa Cruz Wharf, officials confirmed.
The incident occurred at 12:45 p.m. PT on Monday due to “very strong waves crashing into it,” Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley explained during a press briefing.
Two of the workers were rescued from the water, while the third managed to swim to safety, Keeley reported.
“We believe that everyone who fell into the water has been accounted for and is safe,” Keeley stated.
No members of the public were present on the wharf, which was closed to the public at the time of the collapse, officials noted.
The wharf will remain closed until further notice as its structural integrity is being evaluated, officials added.
The municipal wharf in Santa Cruz is undergoing a $4 million restoration following damage from recent storms, according to Tony Elliot, the city’s Director of Parks and Recreation.
Elliot reported that approximately 150 feet at the end of the wharf collapsed, which included a restroom and part of the renovation. Construction equipment also fell into the water.
During the collapse, a city project manager and two contracted engineers monitoring the wharf were also plunged into the water. Fortunately, no serious injuries were reported.
Officials are advising the public to avoid the area and nearby shorelines due to debris in the water and a high surf advisory.
The National Weather Service in the Bay Area has issued a warning for “dangerous and life-threatening beach conditions” along the Pacific Coast through Tuesday, with rough seas and waves expected to reach up to 60 feet.
On Monday afternoon, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office issued an evacuation order for oceanfront residents along a roughly 3-mile stretch of shoreline located just south of Santa Cruz. The order was prompted by large swells and high tides.