Five people have lost their lives and two more are missing after powerful waves battered Australia’s southeastern coastline at the start of the Easter weekend.
The deadly conditions affected beachgoers and fishermen across New South Wales and Victoria, prompting widespread warnings about water safety.
In New South Wales, the body of a man was found near Tathra on Saturday, a day after separate incidents claimed the lives of three other men, including a 58-year-old fisherman. Rescuers are still searching for a man who was swept into the ocean near Sydney and has not been seen since.
Victoria also faced the force of the ocean, where a woman drowned after a group was pulled into the sea in San Remo. One woman managed to return to shore, but another woman and a man remain unaccounted for. Emergency services are continuing search efforts along the coast.
Local authorities have described the weekend as a heartbreaking start to the holiday period. Victoria’s Premier called the events devastating and extended condolences to the families involved. She added that there may still be more grim news in the days ahead if the missing are not found.
The eastern coastlines of both states have been hit by high surf and unstable conditions. Weather warnings were issued ahead of the long weekend, but many visitors still ventured out to unpatrolled beaches. The combination of strong tides and unpredictable surf made swimming and fishing especially risky.
Safety officials are urging the public to use caution. Surf Life Saving Australia reported that over 600 people have drowned on unpatrolled beaches in the past decade. The group is now pushing for greater awareness and encouraging people to only swim where lifeguards are present.
Rescue teams remain active along the coast, and beach safety campaigns have been ramped up to prevent further loss of life. With thousands heading to the beaches during the Easter holidays, authorities are hoping more people will take precautions and avoid unmonitored waters.