The Australian prime minister has issued a warning indicating the potential for further worsening conditions following heavy rain, strong winds, and flooding brought by a low tropical weather system to the country’s east coast.
Anthony Albanese stated that the impacts of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred are already evident in parts of Queensland and New South Wales, with expectations of additional downpours in the hours ahead.
“We must remain vigilant. This is a very serious weather event,” he emphasized in an update on Saturday morning.
“The impact is expected to intensify over the next few hours and days, bringing with it strong winds, heavy rain, flooding, and dangerous conditions throughout the weekend and beyond.
“Now is the time to stay alert, indoors, and support each other.”
A 61-year-old man went missing in a flooded river near Dorrigo in New South Wales, and unfortunately, his body was discovered on Saturday.
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Tropical cyclone Alfred downgraded in Australia
Initially expected to be the first cyclone to make landfall near the Queensland state capital since 1974, Tropical Cyclone Alfred weakened on Saturday to a tropical low, characterized by sustained winds of less than 39mph.
The cyclone stalled off the Brisbane coast for several hours on Saturday, but is projected to move westward across the Australian mainland in the upcoming days, bringing heavy rain, as Matt Collopy, manager at Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology, stated.
More coverage: Latest updates on storm approaching Australian coast
Pic: AP
Significant damage has already been caused by fallen trees in the region, affecting power lines, residences, and vehicles, and the erosion of Gold Coast’s beaches has transformed them into steep sandy cliffs after days of continuous erosion.
Multiple flood warnings are active along the east coast, with the Bureau of Meteorology warning of rapidly rising rivers and the substantial threat of flash floods.
The peak of the flooding is anticipated overnight from Saturday into Sunday.
Mr Albanese cautioned against complacency despite the weather downgrade, reiterating the government’s advice: “If it’s flooded, forget it.”
Sarah Ndiaye, mayor of Byron Shire in New South Wales, shared with Sky News that the region narrowly avoided a major impact from the cyclone, although the situation remains tense.
Pic: AP
Approximately 19,000 individuals have been evacuated from low-lying residences. In Queensland, a woman sustained minor injuries when an apartment building lost its roof, officials reported.
She was among 21 people evacuated from the building.
Additionally, two individuals narrowly avoided a large tree falling on their home in Currumbin Valley in Queensland on Thursday night. They mentioned being only inches away from where the tree landed in their bedroom, resulting in minor injuries for both individuals.
Unprecedented power loss in the region
Over 330,000 homes and businesses experienced power outages on both sides of the border, with a majority of them on the Gold Coast, where gusts of up to 107kph (66 mph) were recorded on Friday night.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli declared the outage as the “largest power loss from a natural disaster” in the region’s history.
Efforts are being made by authorities and emergency services to restore power to affected areas and clear roads obstructed by fallen debris.
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According to the latest forecast by the Bureau of Meteorology Australia, areas receiving the heaviest rainfall could see between 200-300mm of rain in the next 24 hours, along with isolated wind gusts of up to 90kph (55mph).
A severe weather warning is in effect for “heavy to locally intense rainfall” and “damaging winds” from the south of Gympie in Queensland down to Nambucca Heads in New South Wales.
The forecaster anticipates a gradual easing of the intense rainfall by Monday night, contingent on the movement of the weather system across the country.