Two people were rescued after a section of the Santa Cruz pier under construction partially collapsed and fell into the ocean due to heavy surf from a major Pacific storm.

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.

A witness, just 20 yards away, recounted the moments when several massive waves slammed into the pilings of the Santa Cruz Wharf, sending the end of the wharf and three people into the ocean.