Watch as huge waves cause part of the Santa Cruz Pier to collapse, causing 3 people to fall into the water

Three city workers fell overboard on Monday after part of a pier collapsed into the Pacific Ocean in the northern California city of Santa Cruz and huge waves hit the coast.

The Marina is a public pier located in Santa Cruz, about 70 miles south of San Francisco, and home to several restaurants. The pier was evacuated and closed to all emergency responders just after 1 p.m.

Two city workers were rescued by lifeguards, while the third one was rescued on his own, according to the Salinas Californian newspaper of USA TODAY Network.

Video shows part of the Santa Cruz Pier on the Pacific Ocean

The city’s construction crews were demolishing a restaurant on the pier that was damaged by last December’s storm surge when the incident occurred, witnesses told local CBS affiliate KION-TV Collapse accident.

The damaged portion of the pier was closed to the public due to previous storm damage, and no public was present when the collapse occurred.

According to ABC News, Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley said at a press conference that this was “the result of strong wave impact.”

“We believe everyone who entered the water has now been located and is safe,” Keeley said.

Officials warn to ‘stay away from docks’

About 150 feet from the end of the pier, which included a restroom and a recently renovated area, collapsed, said Tony Elliot, director of Parks and Recreation for the city of Santa Cruz. Construction equipment was damaged by the strong tides. Power falls into the water.

Keeley told ABC News that the pier is undergoing a $4 million restoration project due to damage from previous storms.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has been informed of the partial collapse of the Santa Cruz Pier, and his press office wrote in an X post that the state’s Office of Emergency Services is coordinating with local officials to provide support.

“Residents and visitors should avoid the area and follow local guidance,” the press office wrote.

The Santa Cruz Marina posted on Facebook that the pier and surrounding beaches will be closed to the public “until further notice,” and officials warned residents to stay away from the area and beaches because of “dangerous debris” floating in the water.

“The ocean is not messing around today,” the post reads. “These are life (and property) threatening situations… You are risking your life and those who need to save you by jumping into the water or getting too close to it People are also risking their lives.”

The National Weather Service issued a “high surf advisory” for the area, warning of “dangerous swells of 30 to 40 feet, with maximum waves reaching 60 feet in favorable locations.” The NWS warning will remain in effect until 6 p.m. local time Tuesday.

This article originally appeared in USA TODAY: Watch part of Santa Cruz Pier collapse into ocean amid violent waves