Monster wave floods coastal road in California and sweeps away onlookers

12/29/2023 4:11 pm (current 12/29/2023 4:11 pm)

Monstrous wave caused panic in the coastal city. ©screenshot/stol.it

Panic in the coastal city of Ventura, California. On the beach promenade, passersby film a huge wave rolling towards the coast from the Pacific. At the last moment they realize: the wave is much bigger than expected.

A powerful Pacific storm produced monster waves along the California coast Thursday, from San Diego to north of San Francisco. The National Weather Service warned of coastal flooding and large waves with waves between 28 and 40 feet high.

Surprised by the wave

In Southern California's Ventura County, a huge wave broke beach barriers, flooded coastal roads and even swept away a car. Several people were surprised by the wave and had to flee. In total, at least eight people were injured and taken to hospital. The impact was so severe that road cleaning crews had to use excavators to clear debris from State Highway 1 south of San Francisco.