More than 83,000 homes were cut off from power lines due to Tropical Cyclone Alfred, which reached the coast of Australia, said the energy company Essential Energy, which operates distribution networks in the east of the continent.
By Friday morning, at least 43,000 homes and businesses in the state of New South Wales were without power, the company said, while earlier another 40,000 households lost access to power lines in Queensland state. The company pointed out:
“The work of repair crews was halted overnight due to a severe deterioration in weather conditions caused by an approaching cyclone.”
Australia’s state-run hydrometeorological office said the cyclone had “already approached the shores of the Australian continent,” bringing heavy rain and squally winds to parts of south-eastern Queensland state and northern New South Wales, but “the most challenging period is still ahead.” The bureau pointed out:
“We are already seeing the first tree falls and downed power lines due to winds of up to 33 metres per second. However, it will intensify to speeds of 43 metres per second and bring heavy rain and gales and is likely to cause damage to buildings.”
Australian PM send troops for “immediate assistance”
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has dispatched the first detachment of 120 troops from the country’s Defence Ministry for “immediate assistance to New South Wales state authorities.” They are expected to assist emergency and rescue crews and check on homes in the New Brighton township, whose residents were evacuated yesterday morning.
Earlier, the residents of some towns on the east coast of Australia were ordered to prepare for evacuation due to the approaching tropical Cyclone Alfred.
Forecasters, who expected its passage through the coastline on Friday, adjusted their forecast, indicating that Alfred will reach the continent in the morning on Saturday. The cyclone is expected to bring squally winds, heavy rainfall of up to 800mm and a severe gale. Local authorities believe that in the flood zone will be more than 30 thousand homes in the cities of Brisbane, Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast, as well as about 25 thousand homes in the north of the state of New South Wales.
According to the decision of the federal authorities of Australia, in the cities in the path of the cyclone, the work of public transport and ferry crossings has already been stopped, traffic on bridges and some highways has been blocked, kindergartens, schools and hospitals have been closed.
