**Tragic Easter Weekend: Five Lives Lost to Powerful Waves in Australia**

Five individuals have tragically drowned off the coasts of New South Wales and Victoria amidst severe wave conditions during the Easter holiday in Australia. Authorities are continuing searches for two missing persons.

As powerful waves have struck Australia's eastern shoreline, five people have been confirmed dead, and two remain unaccounted for. The fatalities began with a 58-year-old fisherman found deceased in separate incidents. A recent search near Tathra in southern New South Wales led to the discovery of another victim. Reports indicate that rescuers are working diligently to locate someone who was swept into the water near Sydney. In Victoria, a woman drowned and a man went missing after their group was unexpectedly pulled into the ocean in San Remo.

Victoria's Premier Jacinta Allan expressed profound sorrow over the incidents, calling it an "awful start" to the Easter weekend, while also extending condolences to the bereaved families. As the community grapples with these tragedies, Surf Life Saving Australia's head, Adam Weir, highlighted the dangers of unpatrolled beaches, citing over 630 drownings in these areas over the last decade. He urged beachgoers to prioritize safety by choosing patrolled areas and adhering to essential water safety advice: "Stop, Look, Stay Alive."