At least two piers have partially collapsed into the ocean off the coast of South Carolina as Hurricane Ian slams into the state after regaining strength.
Hurricane Ian made landfall in South Carolina on Friday afternoon, prompting authorities to warn residents of storm surges. With wind speeds falling to 65 miles per hour, Ian entered the Atlantic Ocean and turned back toward the continental United States on Friday, regaining hurricane status as wind speeds rose to 85 miles per hour, indicating a Category 1 storm. The National Hurricane Center has recently designated Ian as a Post-Tropical storm.
“The end of the Pawleys Island pier has collapsed & is floating south,” the Pawleys Island Police Department said.
The end of the Pawleys Island pier has collapsed & is floating south. pic.twitter.com/ajJsWeXWfN
— Pawleys Island PD (@PawleysIslandPD) September 30, 2022
Shortly after the Pawleys Island Pier collapsed, another pier partially fell into the ocean in North Myrtle Beach, just north of Pawleys Island, according to the North Myrtle Beach Emergency Management Office, CNN reported.
#BREAKING: A portion of the Cherry Grove Pier appears to have collapsed due to Hurricane Ian #scwx pic.twitter.com/OCWydvgyOr
— WMBF News (@wmbfnews) September 30, 2022
“Ian is forecast to move farther inland overnight over eastern South Carolina, move across central North Carolina early tomorrow and western Virginia by early Sunday.” according to a statement from the National Hurricane Center, which added that the storm will “weaken rapidly after landfall” and dissipate over western North Carolina or Virginia by Saturday night.
Governor Henry McMaster (R-SC) warned residents to stay alert as the storm hits. “A lot of prayers have been answered — this storm is not as bad as it could have been, but don’t let your guard down yet,” he said. “We are not out of the woods yet, there is water on the roads, still heavy winds, and it is still dangerous in many parts of the state.”
Ben Zeisloft contributed to this report.