Cyclone Alfred Leaves 80,000 Homes Without Power as It Approaches Australia’s East Coast
More than 80,000 Australian households were left without electricity on Friday as Tropical Cyclone Alfred, carrying destructive winds, advanced toward the densely populated eastern coast.
By Friday afternoon (local time), the cyclone was positioned 125 kilometers east of Brisbane, according to government officials. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology stated that Alfred, the first cyclone to hit the region since 1974, is expected to make landfall on Saturday.
More than four million people are in the cyclone’s path, which spans a 300-kilometer coastal stretch crossing the border between Queensland and New South Wales.
As of Friday morning, authorities reported that strong winds had already uprooted trees, causing them to fall on power lines, leaving 80,000 homes without electricity in both states. Queensland Premier David Crisafulli warned that while the storm was already severe, conditions would worsen as the cyclone moved inland.
Emergency officials have evacuated 10,000 residents from flood-prone areas in New South Wales, urging others in at-risk zones to take necessary precautions. Over the past three days, many Australians have reinforced their homes with sandbags and stocked up on essential supplies, including food and water, in anticipation of the storm’s impact.
Authorities continue to monitor the cyclone’s trajectory as residents brace for potentially devastating effects in the coming hours.
APS
