Community Corner
Update: Redondo's Sardine Cleanup Suspended Due to Surging Water
The local effort is temporarily hampered by tsunami-related water surges.
(Updated at 2:52 p.m.): Workers have resumed work in area of the harbor where the current isn't dangerous.
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Redondo Beach officials suspended cleanup efforts in King Harbor Marina on Friday morning due to 15 mph water surges that hit the coastline as aftermath from a devastating earthquake in Japan.
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The surging water throughout the harbor made for unsafe conditions to net the fish. Volunteers were sent home at about 2 p.m. after waiting standby for the day to help with the cleanup.
While the volunteers headed home, city workers geared up to continue removing the fish from a corner of the harbor where the current wasn't strong.
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"We're resuming the cleanup in full force with city workers from Redondo and the city of Hawthorne," said Redondo Beach police Sgt. Phil Keenan.
Since about 9:50 a.m. Friday, the inflow and outflow of current in the harbor redistributed the fish and made for conditions too dangerous for divers or boats to operate in the water, Keenan said.
The racing water has not caused any damage to the area or the vessels in the harbor, authorities said.
“Safety for anyone involved in the recovery effort is our primary concern,” said Redondo Beach Mayor Mike Gin, who expressed gratitude for the volunteers on standby while the cleanup effort was stalled.
Elsewhere along the South Bay coastline, the beaches were open, but authorities advised people to stay off the seaside sand in case the waves grew.
The that Japan's massive 8.9-magnitude earthquake could send high tides, waves and currents to the Southern California coastline.
As the advisory remains in effect for several hours, currents could still become hazardous to swimmers, surfers, and boats in the area.
