Hundreds of thousands of residents in Australia remain without power after Cyclone Alfred brought severe weather to the country’s east coast, causing widespread flooding, fallen power lines, and uprooted trees.
Communities in southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales (NSW) have begun clean-up efforts following the storm’s destruction. Tragically, a 61-year-old man’s body was recovered from floodwaters on Saturday, while 12 soldiers en route to rescue operations were hospitalized after their convoy crashed in Lismore.
Although the storm weakened before making landfall near Brisbane on Saturday night, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has warned of ongoing risks. “The situation in Queensland and northern New South Wales remains very serious due to flash flooding and heavy winds,” he said.
Emergency services have responded to over 6,000 distress calls and conducted multiple rescues in Queensland and NSW. Nearly 290,000 properties remain without power, with energy companies cautioning that outages could last for days.
The search for the missing man in Dorrigo, NSW, ended in tragedy after emergency responders witnessed him escaping his vehicle and climbing a tree before being swept away. Meanwhile, in Queensland, authorities have confirmed no reported fatalities or missing persons linked to the storm so far.
Recovery efforts continue as officials urge residents to remain vigilant amid the ongoing threat of heavy rainfall and dangerous conditions.