WATSONVILLE, Calif. (Diya TV) — A strong storm that battered California’s Central Coast on Monday took a man’s life who was trapped under debris at Sunset State Beach and another person missing in the rough seas, authorities said.
First responders were called to Sunset State Beach, a state park in Watsonville along Monterey Bay, around 11:30 a.m. Monday after receiving reports that a man was trapped under debris. According to reports by the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, a huge wave likely washed debris on top of the man, pinning him. The man was pulled from the wreckage and taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The man’s identity has not been released, and further details are not yet available.
Just hours later, at around noon, police reported another man was sucked into the Pacific Ocean by powerful waves at Marina State Beach, 13 miles south of Watsonville. Search and rescue teams were deployed, but deteriorating conditions, including strong currents and high surf, forced them to cancel the search after about two hours. By Monday evening, the man was still missing.
In another storm-related incident, part of the municipal wharf being built in Santa Cruz had collapsed into the ocean. This happened at around 12:45 p.m. According to local authorities, three people fell into the water. Two were rescued by lifeguards, while the third swam to safety. No severe injuries were reported.
Heavy rain, strong winds, and high surf have been bringing dangerous conditions along the coast due to the storm. The National Weather Service had warned of hazardous marine conditions, including high surf and powerful rip currents, which are expected to persist through the week.
Local authorities are urging residents and visitors to avoid beaches and coastal areas until conditions improve. “These storms can be unpredictable, and the ocean is especially dangerous right now,” said a spokesperson for the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office. “We ask everyone to take the warnings seriously and stay safe.”
The storm is part of a greater weather system that hit almost the entire state of California, bringing heavy rain and flash flooding to inland areas and dangerous surf to coastal communities.
