Crescent City: One Feared Dead As Four Swept Into Sea; Harbor Is Destroyed

Catastrophe continues at earthquakes and tsunami stemming from the Japan earthquake early this morning.

Eight-foot waves from the Japan tsunami destroyed much of Crescent City harbor, battered boats, closed the 101 Freeway and left one person missing.

KDRV-TV reported that four people were washed out to sea Friday. Three were hurt and one is feared dead.

Local residents reported that about three dozen boats were "crushed" in the harbor and that surging waters significantly damaged or destroyed most of the docks. Ocean water surging up Elk Creek north of the harbor reportedly lapped up to front doors of the community's cultural center.

The Associated Press reported that the Coast Guard was searching for a man swept out to sea while taking pictures of the tsunami.

Officials were warning residents to expect higher surges throughout the day, one resident said by telephone. Officials from the Sheriff's Department and the city could not be reached. Crescent City, near the Oregon border, was the scene of a devastating tsunami in 1964 which killed 11 people and destroyed 289 homes and businesses.

In 2006, tsunami-driven currents caused $10 million in damage to the city's harbor. One resident said Friday's damage to the harbor was as bad - or worse - as then.

Read the rest of the story via Crescent City: One feared dead as four swept into sea; harbor is destroyed - latimes.com.