The City has confirmed that two of the three victims that were transported to local area hospitals earlier today have succumbed to their injuries. This brings the total fatalities from this incident to three. Beachgoers should continue to use caution when visiting beach areas. pic.twitter.com/sTQdhQZIKh
— City of Encinitas (@EncinitasGov) August 3, 2019
San Diego County Sheriff's Department spokesman Lt. Greenwald said deputies responded at 3 p.m. to the Grandview Surf Beach in northern San Diego County, KNSD reported.
According to Encinitas lifeguard Capt. Larry Giles and sheriff's officials, a woman died at the scene and two other people died at area hospitals, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported. Their names have not been released, the newspaper reported.
Authorities said a chunk of heavy sandstone, measuring 30 feet by 25 feet, broke loose from a cliff near a mobile lifeguard tower at the beach, the Union-Tribune reported.
One other victim is still at the hospital, while the other victim was treated at the scene for minor injuries, KNSD reported.
Brian Ketterer, the southern field division chief with California State Parks, described the sand as dense Torrey and Del Mar sandstone, the Union-Tribune reported.
“This material is very, very heavy,” Ketterer told the newspaper. “Crews are going to come in and will slowly and meticulously break it apart to see if we have anybody still buried under there.”
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