More than a dozen boats were damaged in Santa Cruz on Friday by tsunami waves generated by a massive magnitude 8.9 earthquake in Japan.

The waves first reached beaches around 7:45 a.m.

The water receded 8 inches near Pillar Point in about five minutes, then came rushing back in, according to witnesses.

Some boats in the harbor dry docked when water receded, and then moved around when the waves came roaring back in, officials said. Some of those boats smashed into docks and other vessels in the turbulent water.

KTVU captured aerial images of a yacht wedged underneath a railroad bridge, and a kayak that was split in half by a pylon.

Initial reports said at least 15 fishing and pleasure were ripped from their moorings and damaged in Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor.