Five dead and two missing due to strong waves on the Australian coast
The start of the Easter weekend in Australia has been marked by a series of drownings caused by strong waves in the states of New South Wales and Victoria. Authorities continue the search for two missing people.
Five people have died and two remain missing after a series of incidents caused by strong waves off Australia's east coast at the start of the Easter weekend. The deaths were reported in the states of New South Wales and Victoria, where authorities have deployed search and rescue operations.
One of the cases occurred on Saturday, when the body of a man was found near Tathra, in southern New South Wales. The day before, three men, including a 58-year-old fisherman, died in separate incidents in the same region. In addition, in San Remo, Victoria, a woman died and a man remains missing after being swept out to sea along with another woman who managed to return to shore.
Authorities urge caution amid dangerous coastal conditions
The coasts of eastern Australia have been hit by dangerous sea conditions in recent days, prompting authorities to issue alerts. In the Sydney area, the search continues for a man swept away by the water, while Victorian emergency services continue to search the area where another fatal incident occurred.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan called the events a "terrible start" to the long weekend and expressed her condolences to the affected families. Authorities have also reinforced the message of caution to beachgoers, especially in areas where lifeguards are not patrolled.
Recommend going only to patrolled beaches.
Surf Life Saving Australia Director Adam Weir warned of the dangers of entering the sea on unpatrolled beaches. According to the organization's figures, 630 people have drowned in these areas in the last ten years. Weir urged swimmers to stay on beaches supervised by lifeguards, where conditions are constantly monitored.
Weir noted that Australian coastlines can present both visible and hidden risks, such as dangerous currents and unstable sandbanks. The organization promotes the motto "Stop, look, and stay alive" as an essential guide for beachgoers during the holidays.