One man dead and another missing as California reels from storm's crushing waves

[ad_1] Violent, storm-fueled waves that collapsed a portion of the Santa Cruz Wharf are additionally being blamed for the demise of a person who was discovered pinned beneath particles on a stretch of Monterey Bay shoreline, in addition to the disappearance of one other man.

Emergency crews have been known as to Sundown State Seashore at 11:30 a.m. Monday to help a person who was reported trapped beneath particles amid excessive surf. The person was freed and brought to a hospital the place he was pronounced lifeless, based on the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Workplace. His identification is being withheld till his household is notified.

In the meantime, about 15 miles farther down the coast, harmful situations pressured authorities to name off a seek for a person who was swept into the ocean at Marina State Seashore round midday, based on the Marina Police Division. The 2 incidents will not be believed to be associated, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s workplace mentioned.

Bystanders at Marina State Seashore reported {that a} man was overcome by excessive surf and pulled out to sea, police mentioned. They have been unable to assist him due to the large waves and robust present.

First responders didn't see the lacking man after they arrived on the seaside. They started their search round 300 yards north of Dunes Drive, the place the person entered the ocean.

The U.S. Coast Guard and California Freeway Patrol searched by air and by sea, however have been additionally unable to seek out the person. At 2 p.m., the search was deemed too harmful to proceed as a consequence of worsening climate situations. The lacking man’s identification was not launched by police.

On Monday, the Nationwide Climate Service issued a excessive surf warning for California’s northern coast — together with Santa Cruz, Level Reyes, San Francisco and northern Monterey Bay — and urged folks to keep away from seashores as a consequence of life-threatening situations till 6 p.m. Tuesday.

“Giant waves can sweep throughout the seaside with out warning, pulling folks into the ocean from rocks, jetties and seashores,” the climate service mentioned. “Sudden immersion in chilly water can lead to chilly water shock even for essentially the most skilled swimmers.”

The pounding surf additionally triggered greater than 100 ft of the Santa Cruz Wharf to break down Monday afternoon, tossing a metropolis worker and two contractors into the chilly ocean, metropolis officers mentioned throughout a information convention.

Two of them have been rescued by lifeguards within the space, and the third was in a position to get to security on their very own. The employees had been despatched to the pier to evaluate its stability, metropolis officers mentioned.

The highly effective surf is the results of a collection of atmospheric river occasions which are bringing heavy rain to Northern California, Oregon and Washington state.