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Public Safety

Bluffs Crumble At San Elijo State Beach

A section of the bluffs at San Elijo State Beach in Cardiff that collapsed April 28. 2021. April 29, 2021.
Tania Thorne
A section of the bluffs at San Elijo State Beach in Cardiff that collapsed April 28. 2021. April 29, 2021.

A section of the coastal bluffs came crumbling down Wednesday afternoon at San Elijo State Beach in Cardiff, near lifeguard tower 16.

No injuries were reported, but the danger of the failing bluffs remains.

As more people frequent the beach, officials have placed signs warning visitors of the danger of the actively failing bluffs.

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Bluffs Crumble At San Elijo State Beach
Listen to this story by Tania Thorne.

A sign at San Elijo State Beach stating, "Danger Active Bluff Failure." April 29, 2021.
Tania Thorne
A sign at San Elijo State Beach stating, "Danger Active Bluff Failure." April 29, 2021.

Jeremy Belgau, a construction worker who often takes his lunch breaks at San Elijo Beach, said he sees people camped very close to the bluffs.

“It's something I don't think people pay enough attention to when they're putting up their towel on the beach, their proximity to potentially falling cliffs,” he said. “The city puts the signs up and I personally feel that it's our job as civilians of doing a good job of paying attention.”

Adam Young, a coastal erosion researcher with UC San Diego, said bluff failures happen often and go unreported.

As the weather gets warmer in San Diego, officials say beach visitors should keep away from the bluffs to avoid any accidents.

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