California residents on edge as high surf and flooding threats persist on Christmas Eve

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (AP) — Persistent high surf and flooding threats along California’s coast had residents on high alert a day after a major storm was blamed for one man’s death and the partial collapse of a pier, which propelled three people into the Pacific Ocean.

And two other men remained missing Tuesday, one of them presumed dead, after being swept out to sea in central California, while the U.S. Coast Guard in the Los Angeles area searched for two others after their boat was found overturned earlier in the day.

The National Weather Service on Christmas Eve warned of dangerous, large-breaking waves of up to 35 feet (10.7 meters). Its latest high surf warning expired at 6 p.m.

“Large waves can sweep across the beach without warning, pulling people into the sea from rocks, jetties and beaches,” the weather service said in a Christmas Eve bulletin.

In Santa Cruz, where a municipal wharf under construction partially collapsed on Monday, most beaches were cordoned off as they were inundated with high surf and debris.

Residents received an alert on their phones Tuesday morning notifying them to “avoid all beaches including coastal overlook areas such as rocks, jetties or cliffs.” It warned powerful waves could sweep entire beaches unexpectedly.

Local officials said there could be further damage to the wharf, but no more pieces broke off overnight.

The wharf collapsed and fell into the ocean midday Monday, taking three people with it. Two people were rescued by lifeguards and a third swam to safety. No one was seriously injured.

Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley said in the weeks and months ahead officials will have to assess long-term solutions for protecting the coastal city from the impacts of climate change.

“Hallelujah that no one was hurt in this, which could have been orders of magnitude worse in terms of any injuries to human beings and damage to property onshore and offshore,” he said at a media briefing Tuesday.

“But I think we have somewhat of a question mark as we move through time,” he added. “And I don't think we're by ourselves. I think this is what coastal communities around the world are probably dealing with.”

The structure was in the middle of a $4 million renovation following destructive storms last winter about 70 miles (112 kilometers) south of San Francisco.

“It’s a catastrophe for those down at the end of the wharf,” said David Johnston, who was allowed onto the pier on Monday to check on his business, Venture Quest Kayaking.

Tony Elliot, the head of the Santa Cruz Parks & Recreation Department, estimated that about 150 feet (45 meters) of the end of the wharf fell into the water. It was immediately evacuated and will remain closed indefinitely.

Some of the wharf’s pilings are still in the ocean and remain “serious, serious hazards” to boats, the mayor said. Each piling weighs hundreds of pounds and is being pushed by powerful waves.

“You are risking your life, and those of the people that would need to try and save you by getting in or too close to the water,” the National Weather Service’s Bay Area office said on the social platform X.

Building inspectors were looking at the rest of the pier’s structural integrity.

Some California cities ordered beachfront homes and hotels to evacuate early Monday afternoon as forecasters warned that storm swells would continue to increase throughout the day.

In Watsonville along the Monterey Bay, first responders were called to Sunset State Beach, a state park, around 11:30 a.m. Monday for a report of a man trapped under debris. The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office believes a large wave pinned him there. The man was pronounced dead at a hospital.

The storm’s high surf also likely pulled another man into the Pacific Ocean around noon Monday at Marina State Beach, nearly 13 miles (21 kilometers) south of Watsonville, authorities said. Strong currents and high waves forced searchers to abandon their efforts roughly two hours later as conditions worsened. The man remained missing Monday evening.

Further south in Carmel Bay, a man remained missing as of Tuesday afternoon after reports that someone was swept off the rocks into the ocean at Pebble Beach on Monday, local emergency responders said. The Coast Guard will "transition to a recovery search as ocean conditions improve in the coming days,” officials said in a statement. The ocean's rough conditions mean the man is presumed dead.

Off the coast of the Palos Verdes Peninsula, south of Los Angeles, the Coast Guard searched for two people Tuesday after their vessel was found overturned. They had previously been reported overdue from their trip when the boat was discovered.

Dazio reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press writers Sophie Austin in Sacramento and Jaimie Ding in Los Angeles contributed.

The damaged Santa Cruz Wharf is seen after a section of the pier fell into the ocean during high surf the previous day, in Santa Cruz, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024. (Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

Recovery crews pump water from a semi-submerged boat in Santa Cruz Harbor after it was damaged during high surf in Santa Cruz, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024. (Santa Cruz/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

The damaged Santa Cruz Wharf is seen after a section of the pier fell into the ocean during high surf the previous day, in Santa Cruz, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024. (Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

Caution tape hangs near the entrance of the closed Santa Cruz Wharf after a section of the wharf collapsed into the Pacific Ocean amidst heavy surf Monday in Santa Cruz, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024. (Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

A section of the Santa Cruz Wharf that collapsed into the Pacific Ocean floats at a nearby beach amidst heavy surf in Santa Cruz, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024. (Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

Two surfers walk along the beach as waves crash in Seal Beach, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Waves crash past a pier in Ventura, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Jeff Parker, wearing a Santa Claus hat, watches as a surfer rides a wave in Seal Beach, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

A surfer rides a large wave at Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)

Visitors walk along the beach as high surf comes in Ventura, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Birds fly past the Hermosa Beach Pier as storm surf pounds the beach on Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024 in Manhattan Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)

People brave the rain and walk along the Manhattan Beach Pier to watch high surf on Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024 in Manhattan Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)

People stand at the end of the Manhattan Beach Pier and watch high surf pound the pylons on Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024 in Manhattan Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)

People pump water out of a boat in Santa Cruz Harbor in Santa Cruz, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)

A damaged dock piling is pulled out of Santa Cruz Harbor in Santa Cruz, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)

Overturned boats are shown in Santa Cruz Harbor in Santa Cruz, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)

A man walks by overturned boats in Santa Cruz Harbor in Santa Cruz, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)

Trash and damaged boat parts float through Santa Cruz Harbor in Santa Cruz, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)

Remnants of a bathroom that fell off the wharf are seen at the mouth of the San Lorenzo River in Santa Cruz, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)

Remnants of a bathroom that fell off the wharf are seen at the mouth of the San Lorenzo River in Santa Cruz, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)

Remnants of a bathroom that fell off the wharf are seen at the mouth of the San Lorenzo River in Santa Cruz, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)

Remnants of a bathroom that fell off the wharf are seen at the mouth of the San Lorenzo River in Santa Cruz, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)

Remnants of a bathroom that fell off the wharf are seen at the mouth of the San Lorenzo River in Santa Cruz, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)

A building floats in the ocean after a wharf partially collapsed Monday, Dec. 23, 2024, in Santa Cruz, Calif. (Shmuel Thaler/The Santa Cruz Sentinel via AP)

Damage to the Santa Cruz Wharf is seen in Santa Cruz, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)

Damage to the Santa Cruz Wharf is seen in Santa Cruz, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)

Damage is seen on the end of Santa Cruz Wharf during high surf in Santa Cruz, Calif., Monday, Dec. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)

A building floats in the ocean after a wharf partially collapsed Monday, Dec. 23, 2024, in Santa Cruz, Calif. (Shmuel Thaler/The Santa Cruz Sentinel via AP)

A building floats in the ocean after a wharf partially collapsed Monday, Dec. 23, 2024, in Santa Cruz, Calif. (Shmuel Thaler/The Santa Cruz Sentinel via AP)

A person takes a photo of high surf near the Santa Cruz Wharf in Santa Cruz, Calif., Monday, Dec. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)

A security guard watches the entrance to the closed Santa Cruz Wharf in Santa Cruz, Calif., Monday, Dec. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — India captain Rohit Sharma wants his team's other bowlers to “step up” and help pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah, who has been the standout star of the series with Australia.

Ahead of the start of Thursday's Melbourne Cricket Ground test and with the five-match series level at 1-1 after the rainy draw at Brisbane, Bumrah has taken 21 wickets at an average of 10.90, while the rest of the Indian bowlers have only five more wickets among them at a higher rate — 26 wickets at 36.81.

“Bumrah is certainly making the most of it. (Mohammed) Siraj and the other guys who are bowling around him obviously know they need to step up to get the job done as well,” said Sharma.

“They’re trying really hard. They’ve been a little unlucky as well, a lot of plays and misses, certain opportunities have gone down as well — those things can happen."

Rohit said he was “fine” after taking a knock to his knee while batting in the MCG nets on Sunday, but refused to guarantee he would remain at the No. 6 spot from where he has failed to pass 10 in this series.

He also suggested Boxing Day’s hot weather forecast for Melbourne — up to 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) could encourage India to pick two spinners, despite veteran Ravichandran Ashwin retiring and flying back to Chennai after the Gabba test in Brisbane.

Sharma praised Bumrah's work ethic.

“The impact that he’s had on the series so far is massive,” Sharma said. “I hope he continues to do that because these (next) two games are very important for us. How he operates is very plain and simple. He’s got so much belief in his own skill-set that there’s not much discussion that we need to have with him — it makes it easy for me."

Ravindra Jadeja has failed to take a wicket in 23 overs. Ashwin’s retirement means Washington Sundar shapes as the other spin option, and Tanush Kotian has been added to their touring party as a back-up spinning allrounder.

In the Australian camp, run-maker Travis Head has been passed fit to play and will be joined in the side by MCG hero Scott Boland, who took six wickets for seven runs on his test debut at the MCG in the 2021-22 Ashes series.

Captain Pat Cummins confirmed Wednesday that his team would make two changes for the fourth test, with 19-year-old Sam Konstas to debut — replacing Nathan McSweeney — and Boland coming in for the injured Josh Hazlewood.

The 30-year-old Head has been in strong form, hitting centuries in Adelaide and Brisbane. Head has made 409 runs at an average of 81.80 across the first three tests, dominating India even as the rest of Australia’s batters have faced significant issues against Bumrah.

The fifth and final test is scheduled to start on Jan. 3 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Teams:

Australia: Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (captain), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland

India:: to be named.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

Australia's Travis Head leaves the field as it rains during play on day four of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)

Australia's Travis Head plays a shot during play on day five of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)

India's Jasprit Bumrah celebrates the wicket of Australia's Marnus Labuschagne during play on day five of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)

India's captain Rohit Sharma looks on as rain delays play during play on day three of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)