Cyclone Alfred: Eastern Australia Grapples with Power Outages and Flooding
- paolo bibat
- Mar 9
- 2 min read
Updated: Mar 12
The aftermath of Cyclone Alfred continues to wreak havoc across Australia's eastern coast, leaving hundreds of thousands without power and causing widespread flooding. As communities in southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales (NSW) begin the arduous task of cleaning up, authorities warn that the danger is far from over.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese addressed the nation, emphasizing the ongoing threat posed by the storm's remnants. "The situation in Queensland and northern New South Wales remains very serious due to flash flooding and heavy winds," he stated. "Heavy rainfall, damaging wind gusts, and coastal surf impacts are expected to continue over coming days".
The storm, which had lingered off the coast as a Category 2 cyclone for days, weakened to a tropical low before making landfall near Brisbane on Saturday night. Despite its diminished strength, Alfred has left a trail of destruction in its wake.
As of Sunday evening, nearly 316,540 properties in Queensland were without electricity, with the Gold Coast being the hardest hit area. Energy providers have cautioned residents that power restoration could take several days due to the extensive damage to infrastructure.
The severe weather has tragically claimed at least one life. On Saturday, the body of a 61-year-old man was recovered from floodwaters near Dorrigo in northern NSW. The man had gone missing on Friday after his car was caught in rising waters.
Emergency services have been working tirelessly, conducting over a dozen rescues across Queensland and NSW. Most of these incidents involved people trapped by rising waters in their vehicles or homes. The NSW State Emergency Service reported receiving more than 6,000 calls for assistance.
In a separate incident highlighting the treacherous conditions, 12 Australian Defence Force soldiers were injured when their convoy crashed en route to assist with rescue operations in Lismore. As of Sunday, the soldiers remained hospitalized, with two in serious condition.
The Bureau of Meteorology has warned that the threat of heavy rainfall and flash flooding persists, particularly in areas such as Brisbane, Ipswich, Sunshine Coast, and Gympie. Some regions have already experienced rainfall totals between 100 to 200 millimeters, with isolated areas receiving even higher amounts.
As the clean-up efforts begin, authorities continue to urge residents to remain vigilant and heed all warnings and evacuation orders. With rivers rising rapidly and the potential for more flash floods, the full impact of Cyclone Alfred may not be realized for days to come.
The resilience of affected communities is being put to the test as they face the daunting task of recovery. However, with emergency services, defense forces, and volunteers working tirelessly, there is hope that the region will soon begin to heal from this devastating weather event.
