SYDNEY — Homes along Sydney’s coast experienced flooding and significant damage to coastal structures when a substantial swell coincided with a king tide, causing havoc along the Australian shoreline, authorities reported on Thursday.
In Sydney’s southern area at Botany Bay, midnight saw the evacuation of several homes due to the ocean waves overtaking the coast, stated New South Wales State Emergency Service spokesperson Andrew Edmunds.
Further up north at the famous Bondi Beach, officials described the scene as a formidable 5.5-meter (18-foot) swell pounded the area.
The Bondi Icebergs Swimming Club, which features a waterfront swimming pool, gym, and restaurant, suffered damage when high waves shattered glass windows. CCTV cameras captured the dramatic moment when waves burst through the venue’s glass doors late on Tuesday.
Bob Tate, the club’s general manager, expressed his shock, saying, “It has just been devastating. I’ve been a member for 50 years at Bondi. I’ve never seen this sort of thing before. The sheer force and volume of water were horrendous.”
Tate detailed the damage, noting that around 15 glass panels on the pool deck were fractured, floors suffered impact, and cupboards along with fire hoses were torn from the walls. He described the sight as “quite extraordinary.”
At Cronulla Beach, situated south of Botany Bay, lifeguard Steve Winner noted damage resulted from 4-meter (13-foot) waves to the beach and surrounding pavements, as well as electrical systems.
Officials on Thursday issued warnings about the possibility of more dangerous surf conditions, raising the potential for further coastal erosion and damage stretching from the Illawarra region south of Sydney to the Hunter region north of the city.