3 killed after cliff collapses on California beach near San Diego
Three people were killed by a cliff collapse in Encinitas, California on Friday.
A slab of the cliff that was approximately 10 metres long collapsed on a number of people that were relaxing on Grandview Beach, which is north of San Diego.
Witnesses report that lifeguards, first responders, and other pedestrians were frantically trying to free people that were submerged under several tonnes of rubble.
Local authorities report that five people were rescued from a rubble pile on the beach on Friday evening and several people were taken to the hospital.
One person died on the beach and two succumbed to their injuries at the hospital.
San Diego County Sheriff Search and Rescue Dogs are continuing to search the area to confirm if any individuals are still trapped in the rubble.
As reported by CNN, Encinitas Fire Chief Mike Stein says that the collapse left over 18 metres of debris material on the beach.
Cliff collapses occur naturally as they erode over time. They can be caused by a weakening of the structure due to long term impacts from ocean waves crashing against the coastline.
Source: CNN
