Australian authorities issued urgent evacuation orders for thousands of residents in coastal regions of Queensland on Friday as Tropical Cyclone Alfred intensified ahead of its expected landfall. The storm system, packing winds of 110 km/h, has already left over 60,000 homes without power and forced the closure of Brisbane Airport through Saturday.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli warned of 'unprecedented operational challenges' as torrential rain inundated low-lying areas and waves exceeding 8 meters battered the Gold Coast. 'Our priority is keeping communities safe – we've deployed 500 emergency personnel and opened 17 evacuation centers,' Crisafulli stated during a midnight press briefing.
The Bureau of Meteorology confirmed the storm’s trajectory puts Brisbane’s northern suburbs and the Moreton Bay region at highest risk. Residents in affected areas reported panic-buying at supermarkets, while floodwaters submerged beachfront promenades in Southport.
Energy providers began controlled power shutdowns in flood-prone zones as a precaution, with recovery efforts expected to take several days after the storm passes. The Australian Defense Force placed 2,000 personnel on standby for post-cyclone relief operations.
