The wharf reopened to visitors and merchants less than two weeks after a dangerous storm's crashing waves collapsed more than 100 feet of the pier into the ocean.

A part of the Santa Cruz Wharf collapsed Monday afternoon during a high-surf warning, with authorities confirming two people had to be pulled from the water.

A portion of the Santa Cruz Wharf collapsed Monday and is floating away after being battered by life-threatening waves that could exceed 30 feet.

Three people were rescued from the wharf. The powerful surf also fatally trapped a man under debris on a beach in Santa Cruz, the authorities said.

Three people fell into the water when more than a hundred feet of the Santa Cruz Wharf collapsed into the Pacific Ocean on Monday, as the coastal city was pounded with dangerous high surf.

Santa Cruz State Beaches said that Seacliff State Beach and Rio Del Mar State Beach will be closed until noon on Wednesday. Twin Lakes State Beach, Seabright State Beach and both sides of the fencing at San Lorenzo Point will be closed until 6:00 a.m. Dec 30. due to debris that is washing up onshore.

While already on alert because of the high surf that hit the Monterey Bay coast Monday, Santa Cruz Lifeguards Lt. Isiah Mullen and Lt. Sam Hofmann, stationed on a Jet Ski in the water near Cowell

Two days before Christmas, the Santa Cruz area was hit by the biggest ocean swell in 30 years. The huge waves tore apart a portion of the city's municipal wharf and it has been closed to the public ever since.