Torrential rain from the remnants of Cyclone Alfred caused widespread flooding across Australia’s east coast on Monday, leaving over 190,000 homes and businesses without power as emergency crews raced to restore services.
The weather system, which made landfall on Saturday, has relentlessly battered a 400-kilometre stretch along the Queensland and New South Wales coasts for five days. The severe weather has already claimed one life after a man was swept away by floodwaters while driving over a bridge on Friday.
Although the storm’s intensity has somewhat subsided, authorities continue to issue flood and severe weather alerts across the region. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, speaking in the flood-hit town of Lismore in New South Wales, warned against complacency, saying the crisis is far from over.
In parts of Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, the storm dumped as much as 30 centimetres of rain in just 24 hours, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. Roads were inundated, cars were left partially submerged, and emergency images shared by local media captured the extent of the damage. Seventeen people had to be rescued from rapidly rising waters overnight, Queensland Premier David Crisafulli confirmed.
Officials warned that flash flooding, as well as moderate to major river flooding, remains a serious risk. Forecaster Jonathan How explained that the lingering remnants of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred are still drawing in heavy moisture, causing the system to move slowly and remain intense over land.
The severe conditions have knocked out power to more than 185,000 properties in Queensland and around 10,000 in New South Wales. In more remote areas of New South Wales, helicopters are being deployed to assess the extent of damage to the power grid, according to Essential Energy.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns noted that while most evacuation orders have now been lifted, the weather remains unpredictable, and further rainfall is expected in the coming day.
The storm has so far resulted in one confirmed fatality. The body of a 61-year-old man was recovered after his vehicle was swept off a bridge in northern New South Wales. Witnesses said he tried to cling to a tree branch before being lost to the current.
In a separate incident on Saturday, 13 soldiers were injured when two military trucks overturned during a deployment to assist with flood response efforts near Lismore. Defence Minister Richard Marles stated that all but one of the injured troops had been discharged from hospital by Monday. The remaining soldier is in stable condition and expected to recover fully.
As the region braces for further rainfall, authorities continue to urge residents to remain alert and follow safety guidance to avoid further tragedy.
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