A massive rogue wave sparked panic as it flooded several metres beyond the beach. A brave member of the public who was in Seaward Avenue in the Pierpont neighbourhood part of the Californian city of Ventura filmed a huge wave approaching the coast and continued to document its invasion of the land.
Running away from the water, the man managed to show how the wave first crashed violently into the Seaward Avenue’s retaining walls before flooding the nearby area.
Some of the people running away with him were caught by the water, which proceeded to invade the road, hitting all the trees and vehicles on its passage.
During the video, as many were screaming in horror after noticing the water coming towards them, a truck can be seen speeding away from the water.
A white van can also be seen motionless in the middle of the road, as its driver likely hit the brakes after realising it was going towards the violent wave.
At the end of the video, as the water stopped its advance, a man can be heard asking those around him whether they were okay, while the water can be heard bubbling in the street.
The rogue wave struck just before 11am local time (7pm GMT) on Thursday and was part of a heavy surf event that hit the Tri-County area.
Ventura County firefighters, called for support at 10.52am local time, said the water surged across a beach parking area, and into some roads – including San Pedro Street.
The wave injured eight people knocked over by the strength of the water. Among the worst reported wounds was a broken ankle, local news outlet KCLU wrote, and some of the victims were hospitalised, VC Star said.
Ventura County Fire Captain Brian McGrath said: “It ended up being a total of eight patients due to surf that came over the wall and flooded the streets.”
The wave also damaged several buildings, including a beachfront motel that was hit by the full strength of the raging water.
Similarly, several vehicles parked in the area reported damages after the flooding, and the streets were left engulfed with mud.
The rogue wave prompted not just seagoers to leave the local beach but also the temporary evacuation of residents in and near Seaward Avenue, Zephyr Court and San Pedro Street, Ventura Police Department Commander Ryan Weeks said.
The patrons of the local inn hit by the wave were also advised to temporarily leave the area.
Ventura is a California coastal city located northwest of Los Angeles and it is famous for its beaches, including San Buenaventura State Beach, and Surfer’s Point, popular among surfers.
