Strong storms have repeatedly pounded Santa Cruz in recent years, most notably collapsing a chunk of its wharf this week. Is it just bad luck that has left the coastal city vulnerable to dangerous surf?

The famed Santa Cruz Wharf on the California coast will remain indefinitely closed until further notice after part collapsed this week with city leaders fearing for its future due to growing effects of climate change.

A portion of the Santa Cruz pier collapsed and floated out to sea as high surf pounded the California coast on Monday afternoon. The pier collapse was first reported just after 1 p.m. "A portion of the Santa Cruz Pier has collapsed and is floating away," the National Weather Service said in an statement via social media.

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.

The clean-up effort along the Santa Cruz coastline continued Friday, days after part of the Santa Cruz Wharf collapsed due to pounding high surf as city officials try to assess what their plans might be to rebuild the collapsed section.