The deaths of three young women in the sea off Brighton beach were "tragic and horrendous", the city's council leader has said.
Bella Sankey said it was "the most devastating news" the city had received "for a very long time".
Sankey also said the women were yet to be identified and their loved ones were still to be informed.
It is not yet known how the women came to be in the water, but the coastguard has ended its search and was not looking for anyone else.
Sankey told BBC Radio Sussex: "It is probably the most devastating news that I've received in this city for a very long time.
"I can't think of anything more tragic or more horrendous really."
A large cordon was in place around the beach at Black Rock while emergency teams dealt with the incident. The beach has since reopened.
"This is the last thing that anyone wants or expects to happen," the Brighton & Hove City Council leader said.
"The fact that these women are yet to be identified and their loved ones are yet to be informed is all the more heartbreaking and distressing."
Sussex Police said emergency teams were first called at about 05:45 BST to a report of a single person in the water near Black Rocks car park in Madeira Drive, which runs along the beachfront.
On arrival, two more bodies were recovered from the sea nearby.
It is understood that the women were about 20 to 30 years old and were first spotted at Brighton Palace Pier before drifting to the marina, PA Media reported.
Officers are also exploring several lines of inquiry, including that the women may have gone into the sea from the beach near where they were found, and then got into difficulty.
Anyone with information that could help police is asked to contact the force. People have also been urged to avoid speculation.
Guy Jones, from nearby Kemptown, said: "It's very sad for all of us who associate this part of the coastline with happiness and peace.
"To have lost three young women in the prime of their lives brings a great sadness to the whole community, as well obviously to the family and friends."
Brighton Marina resident Ash Middleton said: "It's very sad and I think it's just sad for Brighton as well.
"I'm a swimmer myself and the seas here are quite treacherous."
Judy, also from the Marina, said: "It just makes it feel more poignant and frightening actually that it can happen so close."
Peter Kyle, MP for Hove and Portslade, said the incident was a "sobering and heartbreaking reminder that our families, neighbours and communities are what is important".
"Our seafront is one of the many jewels in the crown of our city, but the sea can be a risk," he said on Wednesday.
"However, for tonight I shall only be thinking about the families and friends affected by this tragedy."
Labour's Sankey said the council had "worked hard to ensure we have the best possible coverage in terms of a lifeguard service, which obviously is increased over the summer months, but it is of course very challenging".
She added that the council had recently completed a seafront safety review.
The Brighton leg of an annual nationwide protest to hold the water sector to account has also been cancelled because of the incident.
Paddle Out, led by the Surfers Against Sewage campaign group, will see groups gather at more than 50 locations on Saturday.
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