On Thursday morning, a rogue wave crashed onto Ventura beach with devastating consequences.
Eight people were injured and local beaches were closed following the incident, as officials issued high surf warnings.
At Seward Avenue, where the wave made landfall with full strength, bystanders – including Colin Hoag who was out on a jog – were shocked by this unexpected event.
“My first thought was, get out of the way of this,” Hoag told NBC Los Angeles. “This is Mother Nature. You can’t stop her. She’ll plow through anything.”
Witnesses described the incident as “horrific,” claiming it resembled a horror movie. A pickup truck was partially submerged on the beach as people frantically ran away from the wave that had overtaken the shoreline. Video footage captured this chaotic event.
Here’s another video:
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
Authorities issued a warning for high surf and coastal flooding in Ventura County beaches on Saturday, December 29. As a precaution, all beaches throughout the county, including the Ventura Pier, were closed due to hazardous surf conditions.
The Dangerous High Surf Alert was effective until 10 pm that evening and extended from the Ventura Pier to Marina Park. The public was advised to avoid the Pierpont area and all beaches until further notice.
DANGEROUS HIGH SURF ALERT – A high surf warning is in effect for Ventura until 10pm on Sat, Dec 29. All beaches from the Ventura Pier to Marina Park are CLOSED due to large, breaking waves & severe coastal flooding. Avoid the Pierpont area & all beaches until further notice. pic.twitter.com/cchnhhhwCy
— Ventura Police (@Ventura_PD) December 28, 2023
Residents have been provided access to sand and sandbags in order to reinforce their properties.
Sand & sandbags are available to Ventura residents at the City’s Maintenance Yard, located at 336 Sanjon Rd. It’s best to pick-up off Chrisman Ave. Supplies are limited & available on a first-come, first-served basis. Residents will need to bring their own shovel to move the sand pic.twitter.com/BXX9Myrotg
— City of Ventura (@cityofventura) December 29, 2023
The Ventura County Fire Department Dozer Crews are on-site, constructing a protective berm to safeguard the region from any potential waves that may be stronger than expected for Saturday.
Along the Pierpont area of #Ventura, @VCFD wildland dozer crews are building a berm in hopes of preventing a repeat of Thursday’s damage once even more powerful waves come through as expected on Saturday. #vcfire #cawx #acornnewspaper #storm #HighSurf #stormwatch pic.twitter.com/WC4jnhxRWt
— Scott Steepleton (@ScottSteepleton) December 29, 2023
The ocean giveth and the ocean taketh. In other words we are not as poserful as mother nature and we should start remembering that.
Imagine same for Hawaii too & Mexico
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Wilson, C. C. Grumpy old Marine
“Rogue Wave”? Really?!!?
I swear. People are getting dumber by the day. Why would you go anywhere near something like that??? They stand at the edge, the waves come and they are taking pictures. Idiots.
And we let them vote.