Tsunami: Coast Guard seeking man swept out to sea

The Coast Guard is searching for a man who was washed out to sea about 10 a.m. Friday off the coast of Crescent City, just south of the Oregon border.

The man was taking photographs of the waves when he and two other men were swept up in the current, said Coast Guard Lt. Todd Vorenkamp. The two others were able to swim to safety, but the third was not.

The Coast Guard is using boats and aircraft to search for the victim, Vorenkamp said.

The incident occurred at the mouth of the Klamath River, which is a popular beach and public recreation area, Vorenkamp said. He said a tsunami warning remains in effect there.

Authorities evacuated part of the city at 4 a.m. Schools, banks and businesses in the downtown area are closed for the day, and the highway that runs through the town of 5,0000 residents has been shut down.

A tsunami warning remains in effect until 6 p.m.

Crescent City and Fort Bragg were the two cities hit hardest by a tsunami caused by the 1964 earthquake in Alaska.

ALSO:

Toxic algae may have played role in huge Redondo Beach fish die-off

Mel Gibson agrees to plea, but maintains innocence in domestic violence case

Scenes from the tsunami in Japan

-- Sam Allen

Photo: Rough waters have emptied the boat basin in Crescent City, Calif. Credit: Jeff Barnard / Associated Press

Comments

[GTG]

RIP D-WEBB