Residents have been evacuated, properties flooded and coastal infrastructure damaged after a large swell combined with a king tide to batter the Australian shore.
The coast was lashed by a 5.5-meter (18-foot) swell at Sydney’s famous Bondi Beach, officials said on Thursday.
Windows were shattered at Bondi Icebergs Swimming Club, a waterfront pool, gymnasium and restaurant complex.
CCTV footage showed waves bursting through glass doors after 11pm on Tuesday.
“It has just been devastating,” club general manager Bob Tate said.
“I’ve been a member for 50 years at Bondi. I’ve never seen this sort of thing before. You know, the sheer magnitude of the level of water and the power of the water coming through must’ve just been horrendous.”
Tate added that on the pool deck around 15 glass panels were splintered, floors were damaged, and cupboards and firehoses were ripped off the walls. It was “quite extraordinary,” he said.
The pool was temporarily closed to allow for “necessary maintenance and safety assessments” after, what it described as, “significant wave activity”.
“We anticipate reopening on April 18th, and we sincerely appreciate your patience and understanding during this time. We look forward to welcoming you back soon,” the club said on social media.
Randwick City Council said waves had flooded Coogee Beach, damaged the Surf Club’s boat sheds, torn through handrails and left sand piled on the steps and rainbow walkway
It said another king tide was expected at Coogee, Clovelly, Maroubra, Malabar and Little Bay beaches.
Further south, several homes were evacuated in Botany Bay about midnight as waves surged across the coast, according to New South Wales State Emergency Service spokesperson Andrew Edmunds.
At Cronulla Beach, lifeguard Steve Winner said the shore, along with parts of the pavement behind it and electrical infrastructure, had been damaged by 4-meter (13-foot) waves.
Authorities warned on Thursday of further hazardous surf with the potential to cause coastal erosion and damage from the Illawarra region south of Sydney to the Hunter region north of Sydney.
