Hundreds of thousands of Australians without power as storm Alfred lashes Queensland

Thomson Reuters

· Posted: Mar 09, 2025 6:39 AM EDT | Last Updated: 10 minutes ago

Hundreds of thousands of radical successful Australia's Queensland authorities were without powerfulness connected Sunday aft Alfred, a downgraded tropical cyclone, brought damaging winds and dense rains, sparking flood warnings.

Some 316,540 radical were without powerfulness successful Queensland's southeast, wherever the Gold Coast metropolis was the worst-hit country with much than 112,000 without powerfulness owed to the tempest system, vigor distributor Energex said successful a statement.

The tempest reached the Queensland seashore connected Saturday arsenic a "tropical low" aft 16 days arsenic a cyclone, prompting preparations by millions of residents. The authorities superior Brisbane was spared the brunt of the storm, which was besides felt successful confederate neighbour New South Wales.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said connected Sunday that the "situation successful Queensland and bluish New South Wales remains precise superior owed to flash-flooding and dense winds."

"Heavy rainfall, damaging upwind gusts, and coastal surf impacts are expected to proceed implicit coming days," Albanese said successful Canberra, successful remarks televised by the Australian Broadcasting Corp.

The nation's Bureau of Meteorology said dense rainfall that could spark flash flooding was processing connected Sunday and could interaction Brisbane arsenic good arsenic the Queensland determination centres of Ipswich, Sunshine Coast and Gympie, it said.

Damaging winds with gusts of astir 90 km/h were besides imaginable successful the state, the bureau said connected its website.

"It is present conscionable a anemic debased arsenic it continues moving further inland done southeast Queensland, bringing tons of rain," said bureau meteorologist Dean Narramore.

Brisbane Airport reopened connected Sunday but posted connected X that "ongoing upwind whitethorn impact the schedule."

Queensland volition determine connected Sunday connected whether astir 1,000 authorities schools, closed owed to the atrocious weather, volition reopen connected Monday, said authorities Premier David Crisafulli.

"Where it's harmless to bash so, schools volition reopen with the objection of the Gold Coast, wherever determination remains immoderate important damage. Power nonaccomplishment and issues with transport," Crisafulli said successful televised comments from Brisbane.

"One thing's remained consistent, and that is the assemblage tone and the resolve," helium said.

On Saturday, 1 antheral died successful floodwater successful bluish New South Wales, portion 2 Australian defence unit vehicles en way to assistance residents successful the metropolis of Lismore were progressive successful a roadworthy collision that injured respective officers, officials said.