Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred has left a trail of destruction across southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales, with severe weather conditions leading to widespread power outages, flooding, and casualties.
In Queensland, approximately 330,000 properties lost power, marking the largest blackout in the state’s history. The Gold Coast was particularly affected, with over 112,000 residents experiencing outages.
The storm’s heavy rainfall caused significant flooding in various regions. Hervey Bay received over 230mm of rain, leading to the closure of the local airport and necessitating multiple emergency rescues. A luxury high-rise on the Gold Coast, the Meriton Southport, also suffered severe flooding due to inadequate maintenance..
In New South Wales, a 61-year-old man tragically drowned in floodwaters near Dorrigo. Furthermore, 13 Australian Defence Force personnel sustained injuries when two military trucks rolled over near Lismore while en route to assist with relief efforts.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasized the severity of the situation, stating that “the impacts are already being felt, and there is worse to come in the hours ahead.” Residents are urged to remain indoors and exercise caution as recovery operations continue.
