Violence prompted evacuation orders and cut off power to 80,000 homes in Queensland and New South Wales.
The Australian Prime Minister told residents along the country’s east coast to “preparate for the worst” as tropical cyclones approached landing, prompting mass evacuation orders and bringing violent winds that cut power to 80,000 homes.
Tropical Cyclone Alfred is ramming towards the densely populated coastline at “walking speed” on Friday afternoon, 125 km (78 miles) east of Brisbane, and is expected to make landfall early Saturday.
“If nature is at its worst, Australians are at our best. We bring together. We lift each other. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters.
Weather Bureau manager Matt Colopy said approaching Brisbane is expected to weaken the storm.
“This means that destructive winds are unlikely for Brisbane itself, but it is expected to damage gusts of wind up to 120 km/h (75 mph) and will develop quickly as the system approaches,” he said.
Reported from Brisbane, Al Jazeera’s Sara Clark said the “slow moving” storm has enabled preparation and evacuation of large and small, densely populated areas of Australia.
She said that while Brisbane is still mild, the situation on the country’s east coast has “deteriorated” as the storm approaches, with big waves being reported on the Gold Coast.
In northern New South Wales, state emergency services officials were assisting police in search of the missing man after the truck he was driving was washed away from the bridge, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
The man was initially able to climb a tree near the riverbank, but was later found cleaned and found in the water.
Thousands evacuated in the dark
Approximately 4 million people live on cyclone roads that span the state borders of Queensland and New South Wales.
Around 80,000 homes were left in the dark across the two states, causing winds to damage uprooted trees and lowered power lines, and staff and utilities companies were trying to restore electricity amidst the strong winds.
Queensland Premier David Krizahulli said the storm is already “packing punches” and that approaching the land on Saturday morning would exacerbate the warning conditions.
Images from AFP News Agency showed a rock was infused with a white yacht after being moored at a point danger on the Gold Coast.
Queensland ambulances said they had a “lucky escape” after a large gum tree crashed the roof of a countryside Kalimbin Valley home.
State Emergency Services Director Stuart Fisher said 19,000 people have been ordered to evacuate their New South Wales homes or avoid the risk of being trapped in floods by noon.
There was particularly concern in the town of Lismore, which was engulfed by a record 14 metres (46 feet) of flooding after heavy rains in 2022.
Many residents have fortified their homes on land for the past three days, tied up loose furniture, and raised food and water.
Alfred was the first person to land in that area of Australia since 1974, the Weather Service said.
Researchers have repeatedly warned that climate change amplifies the risks of natural disasters such as wildfires, floods and cyclones.
