Shipping container washed away on Gold Coast beach after cyclone
Holiday goers on the Gold Coast have been shocked after a shipping container sprung loose during wild surf conditions.
Photographer Issy Dobozy was taking a few snaps from a lookout behind the Currumbin Surf Life Saving Club on Monday morning when she noticed the container sloshing around.
She filmed the shipping container – which typically weigh about two tonnes when empty – being pushed by the sheer power of the waves towards onlookers on the shore.
The water covers what is normally the car park for the surf club.
Ms Dobozy told Yahoo News Australia that despite the dangerous conditions confronting beach goers, people were excited to see the swell.
“It’s crazy how strong the waves are,” she said.
“No one’s really been swimming but we’ve had a few days of rain so people are out today.”
She added a young family at the lookout with her were “freaking out” as the container moved.
As the steel container washes up in the carpark, onlookers can be heard saying "Oh my god" in the footage taken by Ms Dobozy.
It is not immediately clear where the container came from or what its contents were but Ms Dobozy believes it may have belonged to the club and contained refreshments.
Yahoo News Australia contacted the club for comment.
The wild conditions have seen beach closures across South East Queensland.
On Monday morning, Surf Life Saving Queensland said all Gold Coast beaches had been closed along with Stradbroke Island beaches, some Sunshine Coast and Wide Bay Capricorn beaches "due to dangerous surf conditions".
Ex-Tropical Cyclone Seth 'whipping up a swell'
WeatherZone meteorologist Joel Pippard told Yahoo News Australia the conditions are being caused by ex-Tropical Cyclone Seth.
Mr Pippard said waves off the coast of Brisbane had been detected at about 4.1 metres with a maximum of about eight. The system remains off the coast.
“It’s whipping up a swell,” he said.
“It’s easing incredibly slowly but waves should get below four metres by the end of the day. It’s expected the system will move closer to the coast where we’ll see waves of a similar height but with less energy.”
As the system moves inland, it’s not clear exactly how much if any rainfall it will bring.
Mr Pippard said it is likely if there is any rainfall it will occur on Thursday and Friday.
The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast up to 25mm to fall on Wednesday, 40 on Thursday and 30 on Friday in the Gold Coast area.
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