Five people have died and two others remain missing after powerful waves struck parts of Australia’s east coast during the Easter weekend.
In New South Wales, emergency crews responded to several incidents. On Saturday, they recovered a man’s body near Tathra in the state’s south. A day earlier, a 58-year-old fisherman and two other men died in separate accidents in the region.
Rescuers are still searching for a man who was swept into the sea near Sydney. In another case on Friday, a woman drowned and a man went missing after waves pulled their group into the ocean at San Remo in Victoria. According to Victoria Police, one woman managed to return to shore, but the others did not.
Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan described it as a difficult start to the Easter weekend. She expressed her sympathies to the families affected and said there may be more difficult updates to come.
Eastern parts of the country have faced dangerous surf conditions in recent days. As a result, safety officials have issued fresh warnings for beachgoers.
Adam Weir, Chief Executive of Surf Life Saving Australia, urged people to choose patrolled beaches. He pointed out that 630 people have drowned at unpatrolled locations over the past 10 years.
“Some coastal areas may appear safe, but they often have hidden risks,” he said. “That’s why we remind everyone: Stop, Look, Stay Alive.”
