At least 8 people were hospitalized when large waves wreaked havoc across a coastal California town on Thursday, as a powerful storm loomed over the Pacific Ocean.
Brave residents ignored evacuation orders and flocked to the beach to watch the epic display of crashing waves, but some got too close when the devastating waves broke the sea wall.
A rogue wave hit about 20 beachgoers at Pierpont Beach around 11 a.m. in Ventura.
City of Ventura caught in the water crashed into a concrete barrier and knocked over vulnerable spectators as two drivers tried to escape the waves.
Waves in Ventura reached up to 20 feet as residents also faced “life-threatening rip currents.”
Officials closed the accessible road to the beach, as a way to prevent other spectators from entering the dangerous area.
In another video, obtained by KSBW, two children were enjoying a view of the rough ocean in Santa Cruz, when a giant wave crashed over a fence and wiped out the two helpless children.
#HighSurf – Watch as rogue waves hit the beach at the end of Seward Ave in the City of Ventura. This happens during high tide advisories. Because of this wave eight people were transported to local hospitals. Beaches are currently closed in Ventura County… pic.twitter.com/VlRlgRLhpn
— VCFD PIO (@VCFD_PIO) December 29, 2023
The Santa Cruz Sheriff’s Office issued an evacuation warning early Thursday due to “high tides and flooding.”
“We put out an evacuation warning around 8 o’clock this morning for this area, and, as you can see, these waves are very strong,” Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office Information Officer Ashley Keehn told KTVU FOX 2.
The National Weather Service Bay Area recorded waves in Santa Cruz reaching 28-33 feet.
High tide and rain sent large waves crashing onto the beach and causing flooding in Capitola Village, Calif., on Dec. 25, 2023. ZUMAPRESS.com People watch waves near the Pacifica Municipal Pier in Pacifica, Calif., on Dec. 28. 2023 AP A front-end loader removes debris along a flooded Clarendon road due to high waves in Pacifica, Calif., on Dec. 28, 2023. AP
Debris including driftwood and logs were reported washed up on beaches in the area.
“They are washing logs here. Lots of debris, lots of driftwood. So we’ve asked people to avoid coastal areas immediately,” added Keehn.
The Ventura Fire Department said it worked overnight to create an artificial seawall to protect nearby residential areas.
Two of three rescue helicopters sent to the scene fly over the Oceano Dunes State Recreation Area in Oceano, Calif., after flooding caused high waves in the ocean on Dec. 28, 2023. AP Large waves crash into Duncan’s Landing north of Carmet on Dec. 28, 2023 , as a result of the Pacific storm that hit Northern California. AP A large wave hits the beach in Santa Cruz County, Calif., on Dec. 28, 2023. via REUTERS Heavy machinery clears mud and fallen trees on the beach, as a large wave hits the California coast, in Santa Cruz County, California on Dec. 28, 2023. via Reuters
Spectators aren’t the only ones taking advantage of the big waves, as surfers enjoy a rare opportunity to ride.
“We sent some people out. They’re competing for a photo contest, actually. Yeah, they’re really excited about the big waves and the big waves that are coming right now,” Jackson Fisk told KTVU.
The National Weather Service issued a Hazardous Surf warning for Southern California calling for life-threatening rip currents and significant beach erosion.
The entire west coast from Washington down to the US-Mexico border is also under a high wave warning and advisory until 3 a.m. local time Friday with a coastal flood warning in effect until the evening.
With Postal wire
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
