(KRON) -- A section of the Santa Cruz Wharf collapsed into the ocean Monday amid pounding waves and an ongoing high surf advisory. Three people went into the water with two having to be rescued and a third self-rescuing. Bay Area storm to make for soggy Christmas Eve All three escaped serious harm. However, in nearby Watsonville, a man died after being trapped under debris on the beach. Damage to the Santa Cruz Wharf is seen in Santa Cruz, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Nic Coury) Damage is seen on the end of Santa Cruz Wharf during high surf in Santa Cruz, Calif., Monday, Dec. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Nic Coury) Despite warnings from the National Weather Service of dangerous high surf and hazardous beach conditions, spectators flocked to the coastline Monday to watch the high waves and survey the damage to the wharf. A person takes a photo of high surf near the Santa Cruz Wharf in Santa Cruz, Calif., Monday, Dec. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Nic Coury) Spectators look out at a closed Santa Cruz wharf after the pier partially collapsed and fell into the ocean on Monday, Dec. 23, 2024, in Santa Cruz, Calif. (AP Photo/Martha Mendoza) As of Tuesday, the pier remains closed indefinitely. A security guard watches the entrance to the closed Santa Cruz Wharf in Santa Cruz, Calif., Monday, Dec. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Nic Coury) The section of pier that collapsed into the waves Monday was about 150 feet in length. The collapsed pier at the Santa Cruz Wharf is pictured in Santa Cruz, California, on December 23, 2024. (Photo by Daniel Dreifuss / AFP) (Photo by DANIEL DREIFUSS/AFP via Getty Images) This aerial view shows people looking at the collapsed pier at the Santa Cruz Wharf in Santa Cruz, California, on December 23, 2024. (Photo by Daniel Dreifuss / AFP) (Photo by DANIEL DREIFUSS/AFP via Getty Images) The collapsed section of pier floated away and was slammed into a beach further to the south. (Photo by DANIEL DREIFUSS/AFP via Getty Images) According to Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley, the wharf was in the middle of a $4 million renovation following destructive storms last winter. A building floats in the ocean after a wharf partially collapsed Monday, Dec. 23, 2024, in Santa Cruz, Calif. (Shmuel Thaler/The Santa Cruz Sentinel via AP) Amid persistent high surf and flooding threats, many coastal residents remained on high alert Tuesday. Some California cities have ordered beachfront homes and hotels to evacuate. High surf pulled a man into the Pacific Ocean around noon Monday at Marina State Beach south of Watsonville. Strong currents and high waves forced searchers to abandon their efforts roughly two hours later as conditions worsened. As of Monday evening, the man remained missing. The Associated Press contributed to this report.