Thousands of people in eastern Australia have been ordered to evacuate as Tropical Cyclone Alfred nears landfall. The powerful storm expected to hit as a Category 2 cyclone is bringing heavy rain, strong winds and massive waves causing power outages and flooding in parts of Queensland and New South Wales.
Alfred is currently moving 120 km from Brisbane and 85 km from Gold Coast, with wind gusts exceeding 100 kph (62 mph). Officials warn that the slow-moving storm could bring days of heavy rain, increasing the risk of floods.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli urged residents to evacuate or stay with family and friends, calling evacuation centers a “last resort.” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese echoed the warning, saying, “This isn’t a time for sightseeing. Please stay safe.”
Flooding and Power Outages
The cyclone has already cut off electricity to over 80,000 homes, with half of the outages reported in Gold Coast. Heavy rainfall over 400 mm (16 inches) in some areas has caused severe flooding, with businesses and homes scrambling for protection.
Local business owner Thomas Gough in Lismore a town devastated by floods in 2022 said, “It feels like we have a one-in-100-year event every five years.”
Major Disruptions Brisbane Airport has shut down. Public transport in Brisbane is suspended. Over 1,000 schools in Queensland and 280 in New South Wales are closed. 120 defense personnel have been deployed for rescue efforts.
Officials describe Cyclone Alfred as a “very rare event” for Brisbane, which hasn’t faced a direct cyclone hit since 1974. The city had near misses in 1990 and 2019.
Authorities continue to monitor the storm warning residents to stay indoors and follow evacuation orders as Alfred makes landfall.