One person was dead and hundreds of thousands of customers was without power in eastern Australia, as the weakened storm known as Alfred tropical cyclone reached the land north of Brisbane late on Saturday. Communities are in danger of large floods and officials warned that the storm could bring heavy rains and dangerous winds.
Brisbane, Australia’s third largest city, which was on the cyclone trail, appeared to have escaped mainly from the impact of the storm. However, the slow change system, coupled with high tides, caused extensive floods under the coast in the nearby state of New South Wales.
A man died near the small town of Dorrigo, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a statement on Saturday. Police said a body found on Saturday are believed to have been the ruins of a man who had been reported to be missing from floods in the city, which sank with over 10 inches of rain overnight after days of severe fall.
The man had driven a car that was removed, according to police. He managed to get out of the car and on a tree, but again surpassed the flood waters before the emergency workers were able to reach him.
“This emergency is not over,” said Chris Minns, the prime minister of New South Wales. “The rivers are full. The rain continues and it is expected to continue to fall in the coming days and the wind conditions are very high and extreme.”
More than 333,000 customers in storm -affected areas were without power on Saturday, according to Energex electricity company. Emergency correspondents in New South Wales said they had made 30 flood rescues in the past 24 hours, mainly from people in cars who tried to lead to flooded roads.
Thirteen army were injured when two military vehicles crashed on Saturday near Lismore, a small town about eight hours north of Sydney, according to Australian defense force. Emergency correspondents said earlier that 36 had been injured in the crash.
The officers were in the area to help residents with the impact of the storm, according to a statement. Matt Keogh, Minister of Defense and Veterans’ cases, said in an interview with Australian Broadcasting Corporation that an investigation into the crash.
Dozens of communities remained under evacuation orders in an area known as the North Rivers region, which includes parts of Lismore. The city was flooded with a devastating flood in 2022 that killed 22 people, with the waters rising about 47 feet.
Forecasts said on Saturday afternoon that there was a risk that heavy rainfall would lead to floodwaters overwhelmed by the city.
Mr Minns said officials are aiming for a rapid recovery of subsequent thunderstorms, reporting a person to coordinate efforts. In the floods of 2022, the authorities’ response was criticized by the inhabitants as inadequate and delay, leaving people to take rescue and recovery in their hands.
Isabella kwai and Jonathan wolfe They contributed reports.
