Tropical Cyclone Alfred Triggers Evacuations as It Strengthens Off Queensland’s Coast

Residents and tourists on Great Keppel Island, a renowned holiday spot off Rockhampton’s coast, began evacuating Thursday as Tropical Cyclone Alfred strengthened into a category three storm. The cyclone, located 860 km northeast of Mackay, has prompted strong wind warnings for multiple coastal regions, including Townsville, Mackay, Capricornia, Hervey Bay, and K’gari. Hazardous surf warnings have also been issued, with wind gusts reaching up to 185 km/h as the system intensifies.

The Bureau of Meteorology assured that Alfred is likely to remain offshore through the weekend. However, uncertainty looms over its trajectory beyond Saturday, raising concerns that it may approach Queensland’s central or southern coastline by Sunday. Authorities are closely monitoring developments and urging residents to stay prepared.

This cyclone comes just days after Queensland marked the 10-year anniversary of Tropical Cyclone Marcia, which devastated homes and businesses, causing losses exceeding half a billion dollars. The intensification of Alfred serves as a stark reminder of the region’s vulnerability to powerful storms.