Huge waves combined with strong spring tides have caused damage along Sydney’s iconic coastline, forcing some beaches to close and residents to evacuate as water floods some homes.
Broadcasting firm ABC reported on Wednesday that Australia’s world-famous Bondi Beach was also affected, with huge expansion causing the surf club’s glass door to shatter overnight. The waves on the beach reached a height of 5.5 meters.
Cronulla Beach, in the south of the city, is well known for its many surfing spots and has also been severely affected and damaged the beach promenade.
In other Sydney suburbs, houses were flooded and streets were flooded. Several beaches were closed as precautions.
“This is the worst situation I’ve ever seen in my life,” a resident told the ABC. The waves are the highest on her property. “I’ve never seen a wave almost that high,” she said.
A spokesperson for local emergency services reported that several buildings had to be evacuated.
Some experts believe that this natural phenomenon remains related to tropical cyclone Alfred, which caused flooding and power outages on the East Coast in March.
Stephan Soule, a coastal erosion expert at the National Oceanographic Institute, told ABC that the cause of the damage may need to be repaired.
“It will take a while, especially the weight of sand we lose.”
As the huge bulge continues on the coast of Sydney, a group of boys in the Bronte Ocean Pool explodes. The Emergency Services of New South Wales (SES) said the two weather events are expected to bring more heavy rain and flash flooding. Dean Lewins/AAP/DPA
