Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred weakens but leaves trail of destruction

The body of a man swept away by floodwaters in northern New South Wales has been found, marking the first confirmed loss of life attributed to ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, according to media reports.

The category one storm made landfall in Queensland on Saturday night.

The Bureau of Meteorological (BOM) says the tropical low is expected to move inland more quickly while weakening.

BOM warns that damaging wind gusts will continue around Moreton Bay and some northern suburbs of Brisbane.

"Heavy rainfall will likely continue over southeast Queensland and northern NSW during the weekend."

Restoring power to the southeast Queensland communities most affected by the storm could take up to two weeks.

The outages are being described as the worst since Cyclone Oswald in January 2013, which caused significant damage, including six deaths and one person missing.

As of 9pm local time on Saturday, more than 300,000 homes and businesses are without electricity.

The authorities confirm that the suburbs worst impacted include Biggera Waters, Birkdale, Capalaba, Griffin, Labrador, Miami, Southport, and Victoria Point.

Premier David Crisafulli says power has been restored to the Gold Coast University Hospital.

Energex chief executive Peter Scott says 60,000 people have been reconnected to power after significant outages across southeast Queensland. Over 1000 power lines are down in the region.

“There’s been more than 1000 live lines on the ground that we’ve had to deal with,” Scott tells the Courier Mail. “So please be careful, but don’t assume that they’re turned off.”

Premier David Crisafulli also tells the newspaper that restoring power will be a massive task.

“We’re currently approaching a quarter of a million homes with our power. That’s the single biggest loss we have seen in over a decade, since Oswald.

Photo/BOM

“Queenslanders need to know that right now there are damage assessments being done and already crews are being mobilised to get that job done.”

Residents have been warned to be careful around fallen power lines, as Crisafulli says that just because they're down does not mean they are not active.

9News reports that damaged trees are causing chaos from Tweed Heads to the Gold Coast hinterland.

One report highlights a reckless motorist driving under a tree that fell on power lines. It wasn't the only silly behaviour captured on social media.

Nine says the islands in Moreton Bay have experienced severe impacts. Stradbroke Island has not been spared, with Alfred impacting its beautiful beaches.

Those injured were taken to four different hospitals. Photo/7News

Meanwhile, multiple defence personnel have been seriously injured in a horrific military truck crash in Lismore, NSW.

Media reports state that at least 13 people were injured after two Australian Defence Force (ADF) vehicles, responding to the effects of Alfred, collided on Saturday.

ADF officials told the media that 36 people were on board the two vehicles at the time of the incident.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Defence Minister Richard Marles released a joint statement on Saturday evening.

“Right now, our focus is on the welfare of those involved and their families. Our ADF heroes were on their way to help Australians in need.”

The eye of Alfred as seen from Bribie Islands in Queensland. Photo/Facebook

NSW Premier Chris Minns says communities across the state’s north remain in danger as ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred threatens to dump heavy rainfall.

Minns says the emergency is not over, despite the system weakening to a tropical low on Saturday morning.

He told residents to be alert as the next several days could bring heavy rain, full rivers, and windy conditions.

Lismore is among the areas devastated by the floods from late February to early May 2022, one of the nation's worst recorded natural disasters, with 24 fatalities.

The Pacific cyclone season spans from November to April.

Flooding is imminent in Lismore after TC Alfred crosses the Queensland coast on Saturday. Photo/Glenn Campbell