Clean-up efforts to stem the impact of Thursday乌鸦传媒檚 storm of the century on White Rock乌鸦传媒檚 shoreline are underway.
Search and rescue crews said approximately 60 gas tanks were recovered by 8:30 p.m. from the wreckage of sailboats that were damaged or destroyed in the squalls that battered the waterfront and devastated the city乌鸦传媒檚 100-year-old pier.
It乌鸦传媒檚 estimated just eight of approximately 30 boats that were moored at the dock survived.
乌鸦传媒淭hey乌鸦传媒檙e all shattered,乌鸦传媒� RCM-SAR5 spokesman Dean Donnelly told Peace Arch News from the scene late Thursday.
乌鸦传媒淭hey were already under water when you were filming乌鸦传媒� the pier breaking apart.
PHOTOS: pier crumbles under massive waves, winds
乌鸦传媒� Peace Arch News (@PeaceArchNews)
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High winds kicked up a vicious storm across the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley, at points gusting around 100 km/h.
Felling trees onto power lines, vehicles and homes, it left at least 300,000 in the dark for hours, and was one of the most severe storms BC Hydro has experienced in years, according to information on the utility乌鸦传媒檚 website.
It reached its peak on White Rock乌鸦传媒檚 waterfront around 2 p.m., when sailboats that broke loose from their moorings repeatedly battered the pier, causing it to break in half and stranding one man on the far end.
A Cormorant rescue helicopter was tasked from Victoria to rescue the 42-year-old, who was reportedly 乌鸦传媒減urple乌鸦传媒� when crews got to him.
乌鸦传媒淗e just kept getting hit by wave, after wave, after wave,乌鸦传媒� Donnelly said of the man乌鸦传媒檚 hour-plus experience waiting for rescue.
As bystanders cheered, the man 乌鸦传媒� who appeared in good spirits 乌鸦传媒� was delivered to paramedics at the pierhead and taken to hospital.
Insane day in White Rock. We will be updating this story. Here's some photos. Man rescued after pier destroyed by heavy winds, loose boats.
乌鸦传媒� Aaron Hinks (@aaron_hinks)
: East Beach is now closed until further notice. Closure updates here:
乌鸦传媒� City of White Rock (@whiterockcity)
: White Rock Pier, East Beach, Promenade Closed to Public Until Further Notice. Please give crews the space they need to do their work, respect the barricades in place, and be mindful of those redirecting you. They are just trying to keep you safe."
乌鸦传媒� City of White Rock (@whiterockcity)
乌鸦传媒淭he city has taken measures to prevent access to the pier, which is obviously closed. Despite that, people continue to attempt to gain access,乌鸦传媒� White Rock RCMP Staff Sgt. Daryl Creighton told PAN by text. 乌鸦传媒淭he police will not be putting themselves at risk for someone making poor decisions.乌鸦传媒�
Creighton confirmed the issue continued 乌鸦传媒渢hroughout the night.乌鸦传媒�
乌鸦传媒淪everal people still gained access by climbing along the outside of the pier and then乌鸦传媒� over the rails. Several violation tickets were issued,乌鸦传媒� he said.
Police also responded to calls of 乌鸦传媒渓ooting乌鸦传媒� of the damaged sailboats.
Photos of damage after White Rock's pier was destroyed. There was boats scattered as far as east beach. Plenty of looters out tonight searching through boats with flashlights.
乌鸦传媒� Aaron Hinks (@aaron_hinks)
tholmes@peacearchnews.com
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