Five dead, two missing as dangerous waves batter Australia's eastern coast
SYDNEY — Five people have drowned and two remain missing after powerful waves struck Australia's eastern coastline at the start of the Easter weekend, prompting safety warnings from authorities.
On Saturday, emergency services recovered the body of a man near Tathra in southern New South Wales, a day after a 58-year-old fisherman and two other men died in separate incidents across the state.
Rescue efforts are underway to locate a man who was swept into the water near Sydney. In Victoria, a woman drowned and a man remains missing after being pulled out to sea near San Remo.
According to Victoria Police, one woman from the group managed to return to shore, but the other victims did not survive.
Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan called it an 'awful start' to the Easter weekend. 'My thoughts are with the family of someone who has lost their life in such tragic circumstances, and potentially there is more difficult news to come,' she said.
Australia's eastern states have been battered by hazardous surf conditions, prompting widespread beach warnings.
Surf Life Saving Australia CEO Adam Weir urged beachgoers to stay at patrolled beaches, citing data that shows 630 people have drowned at unpatrolled locations over the past decade.
'These coastal locations can present dangers — some that you can see and some that you can't,' Weir said. 'Which is why we have some simple advice: Stop, Look, Stay Alive.' — Agencies
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