A driver is currently unaccounted for amidst severe flooding as Cyclone Alfred approaches the Queensland coastline, affecting over 160,000 residents who are left without power. The cyclone has inflicted heavy damage along its path, uprooting trees and inundating homes with dangerous rainfall.
As of late Friday, the cyclone was downgraded to a category 1 storm but remains a significant threat to more than four million people in southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales as it heads towards the Moreton Bay islands before making landfall. Forecasts predict wind gusts of up to 120 km/h and rainfall between 350 to 450 millimetres in some areas within a day.
Emergency alerts were issued for millions of residents in the region, urging them to seek shelter as prior warnings of destructive winds were downgraded after midnight. The cyclone’s impact was already felt on land; gusts over 100 km/h led to power outages affecting nearly 170,000 homes and businesses, with thousands of energex technicians limited in their ability to respond due to hazardous conditions.
While the cyclone’s winds were less severe than initially feared, the ongoing threat of flooding remained significant. Authorities reported a tragic incident on Thursday near Coffs Harbour, where a man’s vehicle was swept into floodwaters, with a search operation currently ongoing.
Emergency services have conducted multiple rescues as more residents became trapped due to rising waters, with calls for the public to stay away from flooded roads and beaches. Authorities are particularly concerned about the safety of beachgoers in light of the cyclone’s strong surf and winds, which have the potential to cause further injuries.
With ongoing rainfall expected to exacerbate these conditions, significant flooding is predicted across major river systems, leading to the evacuation of thousands in areas like Lismore in New South Wales. The cyclone is expected to downgrade to a tropical low post-landfall, continuing to impact the region with relentless rain in the days that follow. The community is urged to remain vigilant as authorities and emergency services work to respond to this dangerous situation.