Australia reels from Cyclone Alfred’s wrath—blackouts, evacuations, and life-threatening floods
A catastrophe is unfolding in Australia as Cyclone Alfred leaves behind devastation, cutting power to 350,000 homes, forcing mass evacuations, and turning roads into rivers of chaos. The once-mighty cyclone has weakened to a tropical low, but the destruction it has already caused will haunt communities for weeks.
Southeast Queensland has been plunged into darkness, with emergency crews scrambling to restore electricity to hundreds of thousands of homes. Power lines lay tangled with debris, and fallen trees block roads, making rescue efforts a nightmare. The ferocity of the storm was enough to snap poles like twigs, leaving residents without light, communication, or any sense of security.
Authorities have issued repeated warnings, but some have ignored them—only to find themselves trapped as floodwaters surge through their streets. Emergency services are stretched to their limits, pulling stranded drivers from submerged vehicles and ferrying families from homes swallowed by rising tides.
Lismore and other parts of northern New South Wales are now at the centre of a disaster zone. Entire neighbourhoods have been ordered to evacuate as water levels rise at terrifying speeds. Over 20,000 people are fleeing their homes, clutching whatever belongings they can carry while leaving everything else behind.
The Pacific Motorway, a vital artery between Queensland and New South Wales, has become impassable. Authorities have slammed the brakes on all non-essential travel, warning that those who defy the closures may not make it out alive.
The devastation has forced Prime Minister Anthony Albanese into an unprecedented decision—delaying the federal election until May. With communities in ruins and entire regions focusing on survival, political campaigns have been overshadowed by the urgency of disaster relief.
Residents are now bracing for the next wave of suffering: food shortages, destroyed homes, and a long, gruelling recovery process. Cyclone Alfred may have weakened, but its scars will remain for years.
