The authorities of Australia urged thousands of residents to leave their homes ahead of the approaching tropical cyclone "Alfred" on the mainland tomorrow, on Saturday. The cyclone brings with it strong rains, high waves, and strong winds, causing power outages, halting transport routes, and closing schools. According to the Bureau of Meteorology of Australia, the slow approach of the cyclone to the coast has increased the risk of flooding, with the possibility that it could bring prolonged heavy rains, and it is expected to reach land near the northern Brisbane area, the third largest city in Australia, categorized as a Category Two tropical storm.
The head of the Queensland government, David Crisafulli, stated at today’s press conference that evacuation points are the last refuge, adding that dozens of such points have been opened. Strong winds, reaching speeds of over 100 kilometers per hour, have already impacted coastal areas of Queensland and New South Wales last night.
According to meteorologists, the cyclone is slowly moving westward at a distance of 120 kilometers from Brisbane and 85 kilometers from the tourist area of Gold Coast. Electricity companies reported that over 80,000 homes were left without power in both states, particularly on the Gold Coast.
Brisbane Airport suspended its operations yesterday, and the local transport services were halted. More than a thousand schools were closed in the southeast of Queensland and 280 schools in northern New South Wales.
