PACIFICA (KRON) — Residents of the ocean view apartments teetering precariously on the edge of a steep cliff above the Pacific Ocean are being told to leave their homes, officials announced.
Strong waves caused by the most recent El Niño-fueled storms destroyed part of the bluff along the coast threatening several apartments at 310 Esplanade Avenue, Pacifica officials said in a release.
“Recent bluff failures have resulted in unsafe conditions for living space at 310 Esplanade Avenue,” said Chief Building Official Mike Cully. “Cavities in the bluff are forming to the south, west and north of the building and these critically over-steepened slopes are anticipated to fall back to more stable profiles in the next several days.”
The residents of the 20 apartments in the structure will be allowed to remove their belongings, city officials said.
And on Monday night, the Pacifica City Council officially confirmed the existence of a local emergency at a meeting.
Storm damage cause by the recent storms prompted Pacifica City Manager Lori Tinfow to declare a local emergency for the town.
Since Dec. 15, storms have caused damage to the Pacifica Pier, the Milagra Watershed Outfall and the failure of the sea wall along Beach Blvd. near the intersection of Santa Maria Avenue, according to city official.
Powerful waves created a massive pothole along the road near the pier.
Officials say it could take weeks, even months, to fix all the damage that the storm has done.