A retired Santa Cruz Wharf supervisor said old steel fasteners had been loosening and the structure had been slowly breaking apart for years.

Mayor, while stressing the value of the wharf in the community, says rebuilding without serious discussions would be “irresponsible.”

Cleanup efforts continue at the Santa Cruz Wharf after the collapse during high tide last week. Photos were even captured about an hour before the collapse.

Three people were rescued from the wharf. The powerful surf also fatally trapped a man under debris on a beach in Santa Cruz, the authorities said.

A part of the Santa Cruz Wharf collapsed Monday afternoon during a high-surf warning, with authorities confirming two people had to be pulled from the water.

A portion of the Santa Cruz Wharf has collapsed and is floating away Monday, according to the National Weather Service. Three construction workers went into the water when the pier

Authorities in Capitola are warning people to avoid the wharf because pilings from the Santa Cruz pier are floating down the coast toward the California city.