Rogue wave blows through crowd in California injuring 8

Publish date: 2024-05-03

A massive rogue wave blew through a crowd in the City of Ventura, California Thursday sending eight people to the hospital, according to the Ventura County Fire Department.

Firefighters shared a video showing the event taking place and a group of people being washed away by it.

Officials said the incident happened during a high surf advisory at high tide.

The National Weather Service estimated waves were between 15 and 25 feet high.

The rough conditions caused Ventura County beaches and the pier to be shut down.

Police asked people to stay away from the water after multiple rescues had to be made in other incidents Thursday.

Crews had to rescue a fisherman who fell overboard in the Oxnard harbor. Firefighters said the boater made it ashore and was being assessed by emergency personnel.

"High surf is peaking today, subsiding some tomorrow & increasing again Saturday w/ similar to slightly higher surf & coastal flooding. USE CAUTION at the beach & STAY WELL BACK from the water's edge!" NWS Los Angeles said Thursday night. "There is a high risk of ocean drowning for surfers & beachgoers."

Forecasters have been urging people to not turn their backs to the ocean due to "sneaker waves" — occasional much bigger waves that can run far up the sand and wash someone off a beach.

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Editor's note: The Associated Press contributed to this article.

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