Australia: Property worth millions destroyed as storms and high tide wreck homes

Properties worth millions of dollars were destroyed in Australia's east coast following storms that claimed four lives, while three people have been reported missing. Those who were evacuated from low lying areas in Sydney have been asked to return, but homes in Collaroy beach are still in danger as high tide is expected late on 7 June, which could destroy million dollar mansions along the coast.

Elite residences situated on the beach could collapse as high tide and massive waves could damage structures which were already affected by storms on 6 June. Prof Ian Turner, director of University of New South Wales' Water Research Laboratory, told BBC that Collaroy beach had narrowed by about 50 metres.

He said: "We could hear [the houses] creaking and groaning. Some of them have clearly suffered a degree of structural damage. They will require a very careful look before people can go back inside them."

Waves reaching 13 metres and a spring tide – popularly known as the king tide – damaged backyards, decks and swimming pools of the properties at Collaroy beach. However, after the second tide that breached the area on Monday night, sand got eroded by another five metres, causing more damage to properties located there.

Last year, storms that hit Australia's east coast caused $800m (£551m, € 704m) worth of damage to properties. However, this year's estimates could be more severe as homes mostly along the coast have been affected.

The 13m-high waves and a spring tide- popularly known as king tide in Australia had damaged the backyards, decks and swimming pools of the properties earlier. However, after second tide that happened on Monday night, the sand got eroded by another 5m, causing more damages to properties located there.

Last year, in 2015 also the storms hit Australia's east coast region, damaging properties worth $800m (£551m, € 704m). However, this year's may seem more dramatic because all the damages are mostly witnessed along the coast.