At least six individuals lost their lives due to treacherous wave conditions impacting the Australian east coast, with authorities reminding the public about the dangers of coastal activities.
Giant Waves Claim Six Lives Along Australia's East Coast
Giant Waves Claim Six Lives Along Australia's East Coast
Fierce swells wreak havoc in Sydney and Queensland, leading to multiple drownings over the Easter weekend.
On April 20, 2025, towering waves struck Sydney and neighboring areas during the Easter holiday weekend, resulting in tragic fatalities. According to police reports, a severe low-pressure system unleashed powerful surf starting Friday, leading to waves exceeding 24 feet off Brisbane, Queensland.
The Australian meteorological agency issued urgent warnings for hazardous surf conditions spanning from Queensland to New South Wales, explicitly targeting regions such as Sydney, Byron Bay, and the Gold Coast. Despite these alerts, people continued to fish, boat, and swim in perilous conditions, culminating in disaster.
By the time the hazardous surf warning was lifted on Sunday, five fatalities had been confirmed in New South Wales, supplemented by one additional death in Victoria. The New South Wales police reported the death of a fisherman in Wattamolla, about 20 miles south of Sydney, who was swept into the ocean while fishing. A 14-year-old companion was rescued and currently hospitalized in stable condition.
The tragic wave-induced fatalities included five men in New South Wales who were believed to be fishing or traversing rocky coastlines when they fell or were swept into the sea. Search efforts for missing individuals continue, with authorities reporting one man unaccounted for after being swept away at Little Bay Beach on Friday.
In the state of Victoria, emergency agencies revealed that a woman lost her life after being washed off rocks in San Remo on Friday, while another man was still missing after being pulled into the sea. The importance of water safety has been emphasized by Royal Life Saving Australia, noting that nearly half of the 128 drownings recorded in New South Wales in 2024 happened along coastlines.
The current ocean conditions serve as a grave reminder of the risks associated with coastal activities, especially during severe weather events.
Yan Zhuang is a Times reporter in Seoul covering breaking news.
The Australian meteorological agency issued urgent warnings for hazardous surf conditions spanning from Queensland to New South Wales, explicitly targeting regions such as Sydney, Byron Bay, and the Gold Coast. Despite these alerts, people continued to fish, boat, and swim in perilous conditions, culminating in disaster.
By the time the hazardous surf warning was lifted on Sunday, five fatalities had been confirmed in New South Wales, supplemented by one additional death in Victoria. The New South Wales police reported the death of a fisherman in Wattamolla, about 20 miles south of Sydney, who was swept into the ocean while fishing. A 14-year-old companion was rescued and currently hospitalized in stable condition.
The tragic wave-induced fatalities included five men in New South Wales who were believed to be fishing or traversing rocky coastlines when they fell or were swept into the sea. Search efforts for missing individuals continue, with authorities reporting one man unaccounted for after being swept away at Little Bay Beach on Friday.
In the state of Victoria, emergency agencies revealed that a woman lost her life after being washed off rocks in San Remo on Friday, while another man was still missing after being pulled into the sea. The importance of water safety has been emphasized by Royal Life Saving Australia, noting that nearly half of the 128 drownings recorded in New South Wales in 2024 happened along coastlines.
The current ocean conditions serve as a grave reminder of the risks associated with coastal activities, especially during severe weather events.
Yan Zhuang is a Times reporter in Seoul covering breaking news.
