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.

A part of the Santa Cruz Wharf collapsed Monday afternoon during a high-surf warning, with authorities confirming two people had to be pulled from the water.

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.

A witness, just 20 yards away, recounted the moments when several massive waves slammed into the pilings of the Santa Cruz Wharf, sending the end of the wharf and three people into the ocean.

Sea lions and a historic ocean swell were on a list of reasons released by officials Friday explaining why part of the iconic Santa Cruz Wharf collapsed. The wooden wharf is more than 100 years old and extends a half mile over the ocean.

Amid another high surf advisory, Santa Cruz city leaders Friday morning provided an update on the future of the damaged Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf.

Santa Cruz officials on Friday said they're working with engineers to study the collapsed wharf to make sure it's strong and stable before they open it to the public.