Latest news Cyclone "Alfred" approaching: Tens of thousands in Australia without power
Millions of people in Australia are anxiously awaiting the arrival of Cyclone Alfred. The tropical storm continues to move slowly but surely towards a densely populated region on the east coast that is also popular with tourists. According to the latest calculations by meteorologists, it is likely to make landfall on Saturday morning (local time) - later than initially expected. At last count, "Alfred" was still around 100 kilometers southeast of the metropolis of Brisbane, the country's third-largest city with a population of around 2.5 million.
07.03.2025, 10:58
SDA
It is the first cyclone in 50 years to reach the coast in the region. Most schools, supermarkets, roads and airports were closed as a precaution. The authorities had distributed hundreds of thousands of sandbags so that people could secure their homes and businesses. Evacuation centers were also set up for animals such as horses and larger livestock.
The first foothills of the hurricane already knocked down trees and electricity pylons. More than 80,000 residents are already without power, as reported by ABC. A man was swept into a river near the small town of Dorrigo - the emergency services searched for him.
Nine meter high waves
Waves around nine meters high piled up off the coast, as Jane Golding from the national weather service emphasized. The surf washed away many of the well-known beaches. "We are already experiencing erosion on the Gold Coast beaches, which has caused cliffs up to two meters high in densely populated areas from Surfers Paradise and Main Beach down to Burleigh and Coolangatta," said Natalie Edwards from Surf Life Saving Queensland.
Heavy rain, gusts of up to 150 kilometers per hour and monster waves are expected, especially in the region between the Sunshine Coast in Queensland and the surfing hotspot Byron Bay in New South Wales, 300 kilometers further south. The authorities fear severe flooding. "Heavy to locally extreme rainfall can lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding," warned the weather service.
"I urge anyone living or staying in the evacuation zone to leave the area now," said police spokesman Scott Tanner. "The weather will deteriorate over the next few hours and by then it may be too late to get to safety."
