Part of Santa Cruz wharf collapses sending 3 people into the ocean

Part of the Santa Cruz, Calif., wharf collapsed on Monday, sending three construction workers into the ocean.

All victims were rescued — two by a lifeguard unit and a third managed to swim to safety, according to the Santa Cruz Fire Department, which noted that there were no reports of significant injuries “at this time.”

The local police department deployed a drone to assess the extent of the damage and confirmed there were no additional victims in the water, the fire department said.

The section of the wharf that collapsed has been closed to the public since January because of ongoing construction.

The entire municipal wharf will remain closed until further notice, local officials said.

The incident, which occurred during a high surf advisory, released “large amounts of debris, including potentially hazardous materials” into the ocean. As a result, the fire department said, Main Beach and Cowell’s Beach are closed.

Officials urged the public to exercise caution and warned of dangerous conditions through noon Tuesday.

“Due to life-threatening ocean conditions, please avoid all coastal areas, including overlook areas such as rocks, jetties, or cliffs. Dangerous and powerful waves can sweep across entire beaches unexpectedly. Do not enter the water, and do not cross flooded streets,” the fire department said.