Australians in some east coast areas urged to evacuate for ‘very rare' cyclone
Australia braced for a rare east coast tropical cyclone that is swirling towards Brisbane, its third-most populous city, with authorities urging residents in flood-prone suburbs to evacuate soon.
Storm warnings on Wednesday stretched for more than 500 kilometres (311 miles) across the coast in the states of Queensland and New South Wales, impacting millions of people.
Destructive wind gusts of up to 155 kph (96 mph) could develop from Thursday afternoon and tropical cyclone Alfred is expected to land as a category-two storm early on Friday morning near Brisbane, Queensland's capital.
Total rainfall from the event could be as much as 800 mm (31.5 inches) in some regions, more than the average total for March and could cause life-threatening flash flooding, the Bureau of Meteorology said.
'This is a very rare event for south-east Queensland ... it has been many decades since this part of the state experienced (a cyclone),' Queensland Premier David Crisafulli told reporters.
He called on residents to heed evacuation orders.
'If you are in a storm tide zone or you're in an area where you know there is riverine flooding, you really need to consider and think about your evacuation plan now,' Crisafulli said.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said heavy-lift helicopters have been deployed and offered to 'provide whatever resources are required' for the state governments.
Many residents have left their homes as authorities rush to open evacuation centres. Sandbags are in short supply and supermarket shelves have been stripped bare as people stock up on essentials.
Southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales were last hit by a cyclone more than half a century ago in 1974. The last time a cyclone threatened Brisbane was in 1990 but the system tracked south just before reaching the city.
Schools in southeast Queensland will close and public transport will shut down on Thursday and Friday.
A total of 122 schools in the north of New South Wales will be closed on Wednesday and Thursday, and vulnerable residents will be urged to relocate by Thursday morning, New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said.
'We need to bunker down over the next 48 hours and get through what may be a very difficult time,' he told reporters.
Qantas said it had cancelled a number of flights from southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales and more were likely over the coming days.
The Ladies European Tour co-sanctioned WPGA Championship event was called off and the Australian Football League has postponed two matches in southern Queensland.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Asharq Al-Awsat
10-03-2025
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Floodwaters Still Threaten Parts of Australia's East Coast as Tropical Storm Cleanup Begins
Australia's prime minister cautioned that the fallout from a vicious tropical storm over the weekend was 'far from over' as parts of two states remained inundated with perilous floodwaters on Monday, even as the initial threat from the deluge continued to recede. One person was killed and several others injured after heavy rain lashed Australia's east coast on Saturday, toppling trees and power lines and inundating some parts of Queensland and New South Wales with record downpours. The two states escaped the level of chaos forecast from the tropical low weather system, which was earlier expected to make landfall as the first tropical cyclone to hit southeast Queensland in 51 years — before weakening as it approached. Still, 200,000 homes and businesses were without power in the region on Monday afternoon — after the storm prompted the biggest blackout in Queensland's history — and more than 700 schools were closed for the day. Those living near rivers and creeks were urged to evacuate or stay indoors as water levels continued to rise in some areas — with more rain forecast triggering further warnings during the day. Disaster was declared for the city of Ipswich, west of Brisbane, where a river was expected to flood overnight. People in surrounding suburbs were ordered to leave their homes. Meanwhile, in other towns where floodwaters began to recede a cleanup began as power was restored for tens of thousands of people. The scale of the damage was not immediately clear. Workers whose livelihoods were hampered by the storm will be eligible for welfare payments for up to 13 weeks beginning Tuesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters on Monday. In the city of Lismore in New South Wales, two military trucks helping with the rescue efforts on Saturday rolled over, injuring 13 of the 36 personnel travelling in them. One remained in hospital on Monday with injuries that were not life-threatening, Australia's Defense Minister Richard Marles said. The single casualty of the crisis was a 61-year-old man who disappeared in a flooded river near the New South Wales town of Dorrigo, police said. His body was recovered on Saturday. Albanese warned residents of the two stricken states not to be 'complacent' as flood warnings lingered. 'If it's flooded, forget it,' he said, referring to traveling in or entering inundated areas. Cyclones are common in Queensland's tropical north but are rare in the state's temperate and densely populated southeast corner that borders New South Wales. Tropical Cyclone Alfred was last week expected to become the first cyclone since 1974 to cross the Australian coast near Queensland's state capital of Brisbane, Australia's third-most populous city. But it weakened Saturday to a tropical low, defined as carrying sustained winds of less than 63 kph (39 mph). Authorities had feared similar scenes to those eastern Australia experienced during massive floods in 2011 and in a series of 2022 events — in which more than 20 people died.
Al Arabiya
10-03-2025
- Al Arabiya
Floodwaters threaten parts of Australia's east coast as tropical storm cleanup begins
Australia's prime minister cautioned that the fallout from a vicious tropical storm over the weekend was far from over, as parts of two states remained inundated with perilous floodwaters on Monday even as the initial threat from the deluge continued to recede. One person was killed and several others injured after heavy rain lashed Australia's east coast on Saturday, toppling trees and power lines and inundating some parts of Queensland and New South Wales with record downpours. The two states escaped the level of chaos forecast from the tropical low weather system, which was earlier expected to make landfall as the first tropical cyclone to hit southeast Queensland in 51 years – before weakening as it approached. Still, 200,000 homes and businesses were without power in the region on Monday afternoon – after the storm prompted the biggest blackout in Queensland's history – and more than 700 schools were closed for the day. Those living near rivers and creeks were urged to evacuate or stay indoors as water levels continued to rise in some areas – with more rain forecast triggering further warnings during the day. Disaster was declared for the city of Ipswich, west of Brisbane, where a river was expected to flood overnight. People in surrounding suburbs were ordered to leave their homes. Meanwhile, in other towns where floodwaters began to recede, a cleanup began as power was restored for tens of thousands of people. The scale of the damage was not immediately clear. Workers whose livelihoods were hampered by the storm will be eligible for welfare payments for up to 13 weeks beginning Tuesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters on Monday. In the city of Lismore, in New South Wales, two military trucks helping with the rescue efforts on Saturday rolled over, injuring 13 of the 36 personnel traveling in them. One remained in hospital on Monday with injuries that were not life-threatening, Australia's Defense Minister Richard Marles said. The single casualty of the crisis was a 61-year-old man who disappeared in a flooded river near the New South Wales town of Dorrigo, police said. His body was recovered on Saturday. Albanese warned residents of the two stricken states not to be complacent as flood warnings lingered. 'If it's flooded, forget it,' he said, referring to traveling in or entering inundated areas. Cyclones are common in Queensland's tropical north but are rare in the state's temperate and densely populated southeast corner that borders New South Wales. Tropical Cyclone Alfred was last week expected to become the first cyclone since 1974 to cross the Australian coast near Queensland's state capital of Brisbane, Australia's third-most populous city. But it weakened Saturday to a tropical low, defined as carrying sustained winds of less than 63 kph (39 mph). Authorities had feared similar scenes to those eastern Australia experienced during massive floods in 2011 and in a series of 2022 events – in which more than 20 people died.
Arab News
10-03-2025
- Arab News
Floodwaters still threaten parts of Australia's east coast as tropical storm cleanup begins
WELLINGTON: Australia's prime minister cautioned that the fallout from a vicious tropical storm over the weekend was 'far from over' as parts of two states remained inundated with perilous floodwaters on Monday, even as the initial threat from the deluge continued to recede. One person was killed and several others injured after heavy rain lashed Australia's east coast on Saturday, toppling trees and power lines and inundating some parts of Queensland and New South Wales with record downpours. The two states escaped the level of chaos forecast from the tropical low weather system, which was earlier expected to make landfall as the first tropical cyclone to hit south east Queensland in 51 years – before weakening as it approached. Still, 200,000 homes and businesses were without power in the region on Monday afternoon – after the storm prompted the biggest blackout in Queensland's history – and more than 700 schools were closed for the day. Those living near rivers and creeks were urged to evacuate or stay indoors as water levels continued to rise in some areas – with more rain forecast triggering further warnings during the day. Disaster was declared for the city of Ipswich, west of Brisbane, where a river was expected to flood overnight. People in surrounding suburbs were ordered to leave their homes. Meanwhile, in other towns where floodwaters began to recede a cleanup began as power was restored for tens of thousands of people. The scale of the damage was not immediately clear. Workers whose livelihoods were hampered by the storm will be eligible for welfare payments for up to 13 weeks beginning Tuesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters on Monday. In the city of Lismore in New South Wales, two military trucks helping with the rescue efforts on Saturday rolled over, injuring 13 of the 36 personnel traveling in them. One remained in hospital on Monday with injuries that were not life-threatening, Australia's Defense Minister Richard Marles said. The single casualty of the crisis was a 61-year-old man who disappeared in a flooded river near the New South Wales town of Dorrigo, police said. His body was recovered on Saturday. Albanese warned residents of the two stricken states not to be 'complacent' as flood warnings lingered. 'If it's flooded, forget it,' he said, referring to traveling in or entering inundated areas. Cyclones are common in Queensland's tropical north but are rare in the state's temperate and densely populated southeast corner that borders New South Wales. Tropical Cyclone Alfred was last week expected to become the first cyclone since 1974 to cross the Australian coast near Queensland's state capital of Brisbane, Australia's third-most populous city. But it weakened Saturday to a tropical low, defined as carrying sustained winds of less than 63 kph (39 mph). Authorities had feared similar scenes to those eastern Australia experienced during massive floods in 2011 and in a series of 2022 events – in which more than 20 people died.
