Disaster Strikes: California's Santa Cruz Wharf Meets Its End in Storm

The Santa Cruz Wharf in California got a rough wake-up call from a storm on a Monday. A chunk of the wharf gave way due to heavy surf from a major storm brewing in the Pacific Northwest. Two people fell into the ocean but were quickly rescued by lifeguards, while another person managed to swim to safety. The wharf, which had been under renovation after previous storm damage, saw its restrooms and the 'Dolphin' restaurant float away. This isn't the first time a local pier has taken a hit; last year, the Seacliff State Beach pier was destroyed by winter storms. Authorities warned locals to avoid low-lying beach areas and evacuated guests from ocean-facing rooms at a nearby hotel in Capitola. The collapse happened around lunchtime, and officials expect the area to remain closed due to debris hazards. The wharf, built in 1914 and featured in movies like 'The Lost Boys', now has a significant part of it lodged at the mouth of the San Lorenzo River.