Australian authorities have reported that a body has been discovered in floodwaters, and 36 military personnel were injured in a vehicle accident as severe weather from Tropical Storm Alfred impacts the eastern coast of the country. Although Cyclone Alfred was downgraded to a tropical low on Saturday, it is expected to make landfall near Brisbane, the capital city of Queensland.
Officials are urging residents to stay indoors and remain vigilant, warning that the storm's threat is "not over." High winds have caused fallen trees and damaged power lines, resulting in widespread flooding on low-lying roads. More than 300,000 properties in the region are currently without power.
On Saturday, police confirmed they found a body while searching for a 61-year-old man who went missing on Friday after his car was caught in floodwaters in Dorrigo, northern New South Wales. Emergency responders witnessed the man escape his vehicle and climb onto a tree near the riverbank, but they were unable to reach him before he was swept away. The body discovered in the area is believed to be that of the missing man.
In a separate incident on Saturday, 36 military personnel were injured in a convoy accident in Lismore, located about 200 km south of Brisbane. One truck overturned on a narrow road, leading to a second truck colliding. These personnel were part of military crews deployed to Lismore to assist in rescue and response operations.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed his concern, stating that "Our ADF [Australian Defence Force] heroes were on their way to help Australians in need," while noting that some of the injured individuals had been "seriously" hurt. Earlier, Albanese addressed the nation from Canberra, acknowledging that while millions of residents were "well-prepared," it was essential for everyone to "remain vigilant
Four million people in Queensland and northern New South Wales were preparing for the storm's landfall, with numerous weather warnings issued across both regions. Approximately 287,000 customers were experiencing outages in southeast Queensland, according to energy provider Energex. In New South Wales, Essential Energy reported that more than 42,600 homes and businesses had experienced blackouts.
Residents of Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, went to bed on Friday night expecting strong winds and heavy rain. They awoke on Saturday to find that the cyclone had been downgraded and the city would avoid the worst weather. However, danger still loomed in other parts of southeastern Queensland and northern New South Wales.
Along the Gold Coast, which had already endured severe weather conditions for several days, there were strong winds and heavy rain. Hundreds of trees had been blown over in gardens, parks, and along main roads, creating substantial debris. Emergency services had cordoned off areas at the highest risk.
Stuart Fisher, the state's emergency services operations commander, cautioned against complacency, stating that authorities expect flooding to persist over the coming days.
As the storm approached landfall, nearly 1,000 schools closed, public transport was suspended, and airports shut down. Elective surgeries were also cancelled, and flights were not expected to resume until at least Sunday.
The BBC spoke to several individuals from Brisbane's homeless community who sought refuge at Emmanuel City Mission, which had become a 24-hour shelter. At the Treasure Island Holiday Park on the Gold Coast, a gum tree had fallen between two cabins, damaging a third. Nearby, a boat was half-submerged in one of the canals just a block away from the beach.
Many paths leading to the beach were rendered impassable, with steep drops to the ocean created by powerful waves that had eroded the sand. However, cleanup operations would not begin for several days due to ongoing strong winds and rain. While some residents ventured out to assess the damage, many chose to remain indoors for safety.
Reporting by Simon Atkinson on the Gold Coast.
