Large waves pounded Australia’s east coast on Saturday reaching homes and engulfing Sydney’s famous Bondi Beach.
Dangerous wave alerts have been issued across much of the New South Wales state coast, with strong winds causing threatening waves.
In video showing a five-metre swell, tidal water rushes to the doorsteps of houses and at Avoca Beach, a 90-minute drive north of Sydney, onlookers were fleeing the surging water.
Peter Evans, from the New South Wales Emergency Services, told AFP that crews were tending to several homes in the area where waves had entered properties, but conditions were getting worse. were improving.
“We hope the worst is over and we don’t have tonight or tomorrow what we had this morning and tonight,” he said.
The clear weather has helped teams, but after months of heavy rains, water continues to seep into catchments, he added.
“The sea conditions are still very, very difficult.”
In Sydney, famous Bondi Beach has disappeared as waves crash over the walkways and spill onto a nearby road.
Meteorological services have issued a warning for the whole weekend of dangerous waves and strong winds from the north coast of New South Wales to the Victoria border.
Eastern Australia has experienced several extreme weather events in recent weeks, aided by the La Nina phenomenon and climate change.
Record bad weather and flooding have killed at least 22 people since early February.