300,000 Homes Left Without Power by Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred
Further rain is expected to impact southeast Queensland and northern NSW.
More than 300,000 Australian households are currently without power due to heavy rain and flooding from ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
On March 9, Alfred transitioned into a tropical low as it moved from Bribie Island, Queensland, along the coast and inland towards southwest Queensland.
In southeast Queensland, overnight power outages affected 100,000 residents, with a total of 243,000 outages across the National Broadband Network, mainly in Queensland.
Forecasters anticipate up to 700mm of rainfall and strong winds continuing until Monday.
Up to now, over 45 individuals have been rescued in the latest flood, and approximately 15,000 people in New South Wales (NSW) are under 36 emergency alerts.
NSW North Coast Minister Rose Jackson reported that 800 people sought refuge in evacuation centers on Sunday.
Danger Alerts
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reemphasized warnings about the risks associated with the ongoing natural calamity, citing the tragic death of a 61-year-old man in NSW who was swept away by floodwaters.
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The man and his vehicle were swept away in floodwaters at Megan, approximately 25 kilometers from Dorrigo in NSW, on March 7. Although he managed to climb a tree around 30 meters from the riverbank, he was unfortunately swept away before rescue teams could reach him.
Emergency responders saved 17 individuals who had driven into floodwaters in the past day, and the State Emergency Services advised people not to jeopardize their lives by ignoring the severe warnings.
A damaged home is pictured after a tree uprooted by strong winds crashed into the structure in the suburb of Elanora as Cyclone Alfred passed near the Gold Coast on March 8, 2025. DAVID GRAY/AFP via Getty Images
Weather Forecast
Additional rainfall is predicted for southeast Queensland and northern NSW. The Bureau of Meteorology cautioned that swollen rivers could result in flash flooding in these areas.
The flood levees in Lismore, which suffered severe flooding in 2022, are anticipated to remain stable as the cyclone weakens.
The Wyaralong Dam, southwest of Brisbane, is now overflowing due to the intense rainfall.
Isolated rainfall of up to 400mm is expected on Sunday, and a trough from Central Australia will drag weather systems toward northern NSW.
Senior meteorologist Dean Narramore stated that the weather system will shift the heavy rain to coastal NSW areas by Wednesday, with conditions improving by mid to late week. Narramore added that southeast Queensland should experience relief from continuous rainfall on Monday.
Multiple flood warnings are still in place for Tweed, Richmond, Wilsons, Clarence, and Bellinger rivers in NSW.
6 ADF Personnel Seriously Injured
Meanwhile, six Australian Defence Force (ADF) members, deployed to aid in the aftermath of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred’s storms and floods, were seriously injured after two military trucks rolled over.
In total, 13 personnel sustained injuries, with the injured soldiers currently receiving treatment at local hospitals, according to NSW Police.
Albanese revealed that 32 soldiers were aboard the two trucks, and six suffered serious injuries.
“Everyone at the scene did their best to look after their mates,” the prime minister informed the media.
The incident occurred around 5 p.m. on March 8 when one truck veered off the road and overturned several times in a field. The second truck tipped onto its side while trying to avoid the first truck.
The troops were from the Seventh Brigade stationed at Gallipoli Barracks in Brisbane, representing both the Second Combat Engineer Regiment and the Seventh Service Support Battalion.
Albanese emphasized that the ADF members face risks daily and are not strangers to danger.
“These individuals are heroes who were en route to assist those in need. They were doing so while some of their own families were dealing with the impacts of Alfred,” he said.
Defence Minister Richard Marles addressed inquiries regarding the army’s readiness for natural disaster situations.
Dutton expressed deep concern for reports of ADF personnel sustaining serious injuries near Lismore while assisting with flood recovery efforts.
“Our thoughts, prayers, and appreciation go out to them, their families, and their colleagues. Wishing a speedy and full recovery to all those injured,” he stated.
Public transportation, excluding trains and Gold Coast buses, is gradually resuming operations, while shops and service stations will reopen on a case-by-case basis.
Additionally, retailer Woolworths announced the reopening of some stores and the replenishment of shelves.
