Hundreds of thousands of residents in eastern Australia face prolonged power outages following the devastation brought by Cyclone Alfred, which led to catastrophic weather conditions over the weekend. Regions in southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales (NSW) are grappling with the aftermath, as communities start the arduous process of cleaning up after severe flooding and downed power lines.
Authorities confirmed the recovery of a 61-year-old man's body from submerged floodwaters on Saturday, accentuating the storm's tragic toll. Additionally, a convoy of 12 soldiers was involved in a crash while on rescue operations, resulting in hospitalizations with two personnel in serious condition. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has cautioned residents about ongoing threats from flash flooding and fierce winds.
"The situation remains very serious in Queensland and northern New South Wales due to the impact of heavy rainfall and damaging gusts,” Albanese noted, indicating that the storm had weakened from a category two cyclone before making landfall but continued to pose risks.
Cyclone Alfred lingered off the east coast for days, ultimately transitioning into a tropical depression by Saturday night. Rescue operations have been extensive, with emergency services reporting over 6,000 calls for help from those trapped by rising waters. Currently, nearly 290,000 properties remain without electricity, with power companies forecasting that blackouts might persist for several days.
In New South Wales, emergency responders have focused on areas severely damaged by flooding, including Dorrigo, where initial search efforts located the man who unfortunately succumbed to the floods after escaping his vehicle. Fortunately, Queensland officials reported no fatalities or missing individuals in their jurisdiction due to the storm.
As the region copes with the destructive consequences of Cyclone Alfred, residents are urged to remain vigilant as weather warnings extend beyond the immediate aftermath.
