Cyclone Alfred Highlights: Cyclone now a ‘tropical low’, but situation in Queensland, NSW still serious with power outage, flooding risks

Emergency crews are searching the waters off a remote southern beach in Western Australia for a missing surfer, feared to have been taken by a shark. Authorities launched the search after discovering a surfboard with bite marks near Wharton Beach in the Duke of Orleans Bay area, about 60km east of Esperance, The Guardian reported.

The WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development confirmed they were investigating a "reported shark bite incident," while police received a report at 12:10 pm local time about a "possible surfer in distress."

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, "That will click in and be available for applications from 2:00 tomorrow, but people can check on their eligibility by logging in now to the myGov website or the Services Australia website. The Disaster Recovery Allowance is a solely commonwealth funded allowance."

PM Albanese further added, "It provides up to 13 weeks of income support at the jobseeker level to individuals who work in the local government areas impacted, and of those across NSW and Queensland. There are 31 local government areas who’ve been impacted as a direct result of this disaster."

(with inputs from The Guardian)

"We’re experiencing wastewater overflows and releases from some of our wastewater infrastructure due to a range of reasons including increased flows from wet weather, power outages or critical components of pump stations having been removed as part of preparation works.

We’re reminding people to avoid contact with flood water and local waterways following wet weather. During wet weather events, waterways can be impacted by a range of sources including diluted wastewater, debris, animal waste and stormwater run-off," Queensland water authority stated, according to The Guardian.

The Australian government said on Monday it would activate financial support for workers who lost income due to ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, which has caused widespread flooding, power outages and property damage across the east coast.

The storm hit land north of Brisbane, Australia's third-most populous city, late on Saturday after being downgraded to a tropical low, pummeling the states of Queensland and New South Wales.

One man has died and 12 soldiers deployed for assistance were injured after their vehicles crashed in wet conditions, authorities said. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said workers whose income drops below the country's average weekly wage would be eligible to apply for up to 13 weeks of financial support from Tuesday. “We've got your back. That's my message to the community,” Albanese told a press conference in the flooded town of Lismore about 700 km (440 miles) north of Sydney on Monday.

The income support would be equivalent to the country's unemployment benefits scheme JobSeeker, currently set at A$778 ($490.76) a fortnight for a single person with no children and comes on top of a one-off, A$1,000 disaster payment announced over the weekend. Authorities said more than 230,000 households and businesses were still facing power outages and thousands of properties were at risk of flooding after rainfall totals of up to 433mm (17 inches) in the past 24 hours.

Australia's Bureau of Meteorology said that while conditions would ease throughout the day, the risk was not over. “There is still significant flooding occurring throughout south-east Queensland," bureau meteorologist Sue Oates said. "More intense rainfall is possible, and there is an increased risk of dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding.”

(Reuters)

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate has urged residents to remain cautious, warning that "even though the rain is subsiding, there is still a tremendous amount of water coming through for isolated flash flooding to occur, so don't take your chances, take a longer route home," as reported by The Guardian.

NSW Police have conducted raids across Sydney, investigating potential organised crime connections to the explosives-laden caravan discovered in January in northwest Sydney, The Guardian.

According to NSW Energy Minister Penny Sharpe, the number of homes without power has significantly decreased to less than 10,000, down from 43,000, with Essential Energy working around the clock to restore power as quickly as possible, particularly for isolated communities.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has dismissed any political criticism of his government’s handling of disaster relief, insisting that support has been delivered “in a totally non-political way.”

Speaking to the media, he responded to questions about opposition leader Peter Dutton’s comments regarding his attendance at a fundraiser before the cyclone hit, saying, "I haven’t seen those comments from Mr. Dutton. I haven’t seen any comments from Mr. Dutton for a while, but … I’ve been getting on with doing this job", reported by The Guardian.

The budget is set to be released on March 25, with the government emphasizing its commitment to cost-of-living support. The Prime Minister pointed to the government's track record, citing tax cuts for all Australian taxpayers, as well as relief measures such as cheaper energy bills, childcare, and medicines. (The Guardian)

The Bureau of Meteorology’s Matthew Bass says, as per ABC News, the upper catchment of the Brisbane River above Wivenhoe Dam remains "relatively dry," reducing the risk of major flooding. This brings relief to Brisbane residents concerned about a repeat of the 2022 or 2011 floods, reported ABC News.

Logan City Council has issued an emergency alert warning of major flooding in Upper Oxley Creek, as per ABC news. Residents in Greenbank, New Beith, and Forestdale are urged to stay put as it is too dangerous to leave. If near floodwaters, move to higher ground immediately.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) issued a severe thunderstorm warning at 1 a.m. for southeast Queensland, reported ABC News. Two large, very dangerous thunderstorms are tracking over the Noosa, Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan, Scenic Rim, and Lockyer Valley areas. Heavy rainfall continues. Residents are urged to take precautions.

(With inputs from ABC News)

Residents in Laidley are urged to "take safe shelter now" as dangerous flooding is expected in the coming hours, reported ABC news. Authorities advise people to warn neighbours, secure belongings, and seek higher ground if necessary. An evacuation centre has been set up at Laidley State High School.

As of Thursday evening (March 6), Cyclone Alfred is <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/world/cyclone-alfred-live-updates-schools-closed-transport-halted-as-tropical-cyclone-alfred-approaches-australian-coast-9871971/:~:text=Cyclone%20Alfred%20was%20located%20280,strength%20until%20it%20makes%20landfall.">making its way towards Australia’s east coast, threatening to dump massive amounts of rain in an area unprepared to deal with such tropical storms.

The cyclone is unusual for two reasons — it has formed way too south, and is moving slowly. Both these factors make it more dangerous.

What makes Cyclone Alfred rare?

Usually, cyclones hit Australia’s northern areas. In fact, the last time a cyclone struck the Gold Coast area was in 1974, with Cyclone Zoe. The south of Australia is more heavily populated, with Brisbane the country’s third most populated city. Read more

3,000 insurance claims were lodged in two days as ex-Tropical Cyclone causes devastation in Australia's east coast, The Guardian said citing an Australian Associated Press (AAP) report.

The system which started as a Category 2 cyclone downgraded to a Category 1 on landfall. On Sunday, it further downgraded to a tropical low system.

The Bureau of Meteorology has forecasted heavy rainfall in New South Wales and Queensland, where 11 and 9 locations are under flood alert, respectively.

So far, over 300,000 homes have lost power due to the cyclone with Queensland reporting a majority of them.

Beach erosion following cyclone Alfred on the Gold Coast, Australia. (AP)

A sign saying "beach closed" following cyclone Alfred on the Gold Coast, Australia. (AP)

The situation in Northern New South Wales remains unpredictable, with the State Emergency Service (SES) warning that flooding in the region is still a major concern, particularly in areas such as Grafton, where the Clarence River is nearing the major flooding mark of 5.4 metres.

Several members of the Australian Defence Force have visited their injured colleagues at Lismore Base Hospital, after two army vehicles rolled in a flood-affected area, injuring 13 soldiers, including six seriously.

Defence Minister Richard Marles stated, "This team of 32 had been involved in clearance work and were in transit from one task to another when the incident occurred… all are expected to recover."

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese praised the group, saying "These men and women are heroes on their way to help people in need... They were doing this at a time when some of their own families were dealing with Alfred". (ABC News)

Hundreds of thousands of people in Queensland, Australia, were left without power on Sunday after Alfred, a downgraded tropical cyclone, brought strong winds and heavy rainfall, triggering flood warnings.

Energy provider Energex reported that 316,540 residents lost power, with the Gold Coast being the hardest hit, affecting over 112,000 people. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese warned that the situation remains serious, telling Reuters, “Heavy rainfall, damaging wind gusts, and coastal surf impacts are expected to continue over coming days.”

The Bureau of Meteorology said flash flooding could affect Brisbane, Ipswich, Sunshine Coast, and Gympie, while winds of up to 90 kph (60 mph) remain possible. State Premier David Crisafulli confirmed that schools would reopen where safe, except in the Gold Coast due to power outages and transport disruptions.

Meanwhile, one man died in northern New South Wales due to flooding, and an accident involving Australian Defence Force vehicles injured several officers en route to assist in Lismore.

(with inputs from Reuters)

Maritime Safety Queensland has lifted the red alert, allowing boat operations to resume, according to the premier. With the resumption of boat operations, authorities are urging individuals to exercise caution while on the water, emphasizing the importance of safety.

Queensland Premier Mr. Crisafulli has announced that NAPLAN tests will go ahead as scheduled on Wednesday for schools that can operate normally. However, schools affected by closures will have a two-week window to administer the tests, with a backup plan in place for Monday, March 17. "It will proceed on Wednesday if you have not been impacted. If you have been impacted there is that window," Mr. Crisafulli stated, emphasizing the importance of proceeding with the tests, as reported by ABC News.

A powerful storm has knocked out power to over 25,000 homes in Toowoomba and the Darling Downs, with residents warned to prepare for prolonged outages. "People should be prepared for prolonged outages, that's been the messaging for the past week," said Ergon Energy spokesperson Brett Judge, urging those using generators to exercise caution and keep them outdoors. (ABC News)

"Floodwaters are incredibly unpredictable and it's just not worth the risk," NSW SES Acting Chief Superintendent Stuart Fisher warned, after emergency services performed six flood rescues overnight, including one where a family of eight tried to navigate through floodwaters. "Do not drive through floodwaters. It absolutely astounds me that this still occurs," Fisher emphasized, relieved that SES crews were able to rescue the family safely, reported by ABC News.

Power was restored to 13,000 homes and businesses on Saturday night, as crews took advantage of easing weather conditions to deploy and work on restoring electricity. Despite this progress, 16,000 homes and businesses remain without power, with ongoing efforts to fully restore power to affected areas, as reported by ABC News.

Acting Gold Coast Mayor Donna Gates expressed her distress over the devastation caused by ex-tropical cyclone Alfred, saying it's "horrible" to see the damage to the city's beaches. "It's really upsetting to see the beaches, horrible, the damage is really quite upsetting," she emphasized.

Gates urged people to stay away from the shore, warning that buildings along the beach have suffered structural damage. "They may look safe, in fact, the foundations are gone in some instances," she cautioned, highlighting the severity of the situation.

Public transport services on the Gold Coast will be suspended tomorrow. According to Acting Mayor Donna Gates, approximately 225,000 traffic intersections have been impacted, with 20% of traffic lights still out of operation. Gates stated, "Things will start opening again tomorrow, but clearly, we still don't know what the results of today's storm will be." Meanwhile, Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate has returned to the city and is expected to resume duties on the ground from 10 am today. (ABC News)

NSW North Coast Minister Rose Jackson has provided the latest updates on evacuation centres in the state. As of the latest report, 768 people are currently staying at evacuation centres, with 21 centres open to the public.

Additionally, 289 individuals have found shelter in other forms of emergency accommodation. Notably, over 1300 people have registered for assistance at these centres, highlighting the widespread impact of the situation.

Energy Minister Penny Sharpe has urged Lismore residents not to return home despite the levee not being breached, citing safety concerns including live electricity wires, debris, and rotten areas. "You may think that it is OK to go back home, but until you are told to do so, please don't," she warned, as reported by ABC News.

The Brisbane area has recorded 50-100mm of rainfall, mostly in the last six hours, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

Eagle Farm received 102mm, while Chandler recorded 108mm. “Pretty much the entire city has had somewhere between 50 to 80mm,” said BOM’s Dean Narramore, as per ABC News, warning that rainfall is expected to intensify by mid-morning and into the afternoon.

Residents in Toowoomba and the Lockyer Valley are urged to stay cautious as Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred moves through the region, as per ABC News. Deputy District Disaster Coordinator Scott Stahlhut warned against clearing fallen debris alone, as trees are coming down and emergency crews are in high demand. “I'm confident that a lot of those people in vulnerable areas are well informed and taking pre-emptive action,” Stahlhut said, as per ABC News.