Australia cyclone: Mass blackouts and flooding in storm-affected states

Australia's east coast has recently been hit by a severe tropical cyclone, with adverse weather leaving hundreds of thousands of residents still without power. Communities in southeastern Queensland and northern New South Wales (NSW) began cleanup efforts on Sunday after the storm caused widespread flooding and destroyed power lines and trees.

On Saturday, the body of a 61-year-old man was found in floodwaters. In a separate incident, 12 soldiers were hospitalized after a convoy accident while en route to a rescue operation. Although the storm weakened as it made landfall near Brisbane on Saturday night, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese warned local residents on Sunday to remain vigilant about the continuing risk of severe weather and flooding.

Prime Minister Albanese stated, "The situation in Queensland and northern New South Wales remains very serious due to flash flooding and strong winds. Heavy rainfall, destructive wind gusts, and large coastal waves are expected to continue in the coming days." Tropical Cyclone Alfred had previously lingered off the east coast of Australia for several days as a Category 2 cyclone before weakening into a tropical low on Saturday.

As of Sunday evening, emergency services had conducted more than a dozen rescue operations in Queensland and New South Wales, mostly involving people trapped in cars or homes. New South Wales emergency services reported receiving over 6,000 calls for assistance. Nearly 290,000 homes in the affected areas remain without power, and energy companies have warned residents that outages could last for several days.

Police stated on Saturday that they discovered a body during a search operation, identifying it as that of a 61-year-old man who went missing on Friday when his car became trapped in floodwaters in Dorrigo, northern New South Wales. Emergency responders witnessed the man escape the car and climb a tree near the riverbank, but rescuers were unable to reach him in time, and the man was subsequently swept away by the floodwaters. In a separate incident on Saturday, 12 soldiers were injured in a convoy crash in Lismore, about 200 kilometers south of Brisbane, as they were traveling to rescue and recovery efforts.

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns stated at a press conference that the soldiers were still in the hospital receiving treatment on Sunday, with two in serious condition. "We wish all the young soldiers a speedy recovery," he said. Queensland police reported that, so far, no deaths or missing persons due to weather events have been recorded in the state.