A massive wave crashed into a crowd of beachgoers in California, sending them fleeing for their safety and injuring at least eight people, some seriously, in a scene of nature’s fury that was captured on video.
With a severe storm pounding areas of the coastal state, some ignored the warnings of officials to stay away from the beaches as they sought to get an up close and personal look at the massive swell. In Ventura, they got more than they bargained for when the wall of water came roaring in from the Pacific Ocean.
The rogue wave struck Pierpont Beach around 11 a.m. on Thursday with the scene, which was reminiscent of a disaster movie, caught as it happened by a bystander who posted it to social media where it has gone viral.
A rogue wave slammed into a crowd of onlookers in Ventura today. Viewer sent @NewsChannel312 this video. At least eight people were injured. WARNING: Video not censored pic.twitter.com/mHU74ES0F7
— Ryder Christ (@RyderChristNews) December 29, 2023
In the footage, the monster wave is seen as it explodes over the seawall, sending panicked onlookers running as the water is seen rushing inland through the nearby streets.
Another video posted to X shows another group of people who were watching the water as the wave slammed into them, a scary scene that could have been avoided if they had heeded the advice to avoid the shoreline.
#HighSurf – Watch when a rogue wave hits the beach at the end of Seward Ave in the City of Ventura. This occurred during the high surf advisory at high tide. Because of this wave eight people were transported to local hospitals. Currently the beaches are closed in Ventura County… pic.twitter.com/VlRlgRLhpn
— VCFD PIO (@VCFD_PIO) December 29, 2023
“Nine people were rushed to the hospital by paramedics. Witnesses said several victims suffered broken bones. Two of the victims remain in critical condition on Thursday night,” KTLA reported.
“It was horrific,” said Colin Hoag, a witness who captured the gargantuan wave on cellphone video.
“There was a lot of screaming, a lot of yelling. I didn’t know how far [the wave] would go. I thought, ‘This is a tsunami, is what it looks like to me,’” Hoag added, according to KTLA.
More footage of the inclement weather – although not nearly as dramatic – was also posted to the X platform.
A street near the beach in Ventura, California, was flooded with ocean water as large waves pounded the coast, causing a seawall breach. https://t.co/UBfAJ7ewjD pic.twitter.com/8g9OzieEgl
— ABC News (@ABC) December 28, 2023
Impressive waves today at #Pacifica , #California
A high wave warning remains in effect until 3am.#California #Ventura #flooded #ocean #coast #seawall #Floods #Waves #highsurf #hightide #VenturaCounty pic.twitter.com/B1GFu3O6ix
— mishikasingh (@mishika_singh) December 29, 2023
People flocked to the California coast earlier Thursday to witness the power of Mother Nature!
High Surf Warnings remain in effect as up to 30′ waves continue to batter the Golden State, thanks to a powerful low-pressure system just offshore. pic.twitter.com/1BtG7QOaNr
— WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) December 29, 2023
Impressive waves today in #Pacifica, #California pic.twitter.com/LdQ7LOhssq
— ATUL AWASTHI (@atul6622) December 29, 2023
The high waves in Malibu, California, today ♂️ pic.twitter.com/fwI9w4kYYP
— (@nawfmeskin) December 29, 2023
“I think a lot of lessons were learned today when you look at that video,” Andy VanSciver from the Ventura County Fire Department said, according to KTLA. “The importance of heeding the warnings, about giving the ocean some respect.”
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