Massive Flooding In Eastern Australia Leaves 190,000 Without Power

Severe flooding has engulfed eastern Australia, leaving over 190,000 homes and businesses in darkness as authorities struggle to mitigate the impact of the relentless storm.
The catastrophic downpour, triggered by the remnants of Cyclone Alfred, submerged vast areas along a 400-kilometer (250-mile) stretch of coastline. Since making landfall on Saturday, the powerful weather system has battered communities for five consecutive days, claiming at least one life.
Emergency responders are racing against time to clear inundated streets, salvage stranded vehicles, and provide relief to displaced residents.
Despite the storm’s gradual weakening, officials continue to issue flood and extreme weather alerts, particularly across Queensland and New South Wales.
“This event is far from over. We cannot afford to be complacent,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese warned during a press briefing in Lismore, one of the worst-hit areas.
Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, witnessed record-breaking rainfall, with 30 centimeters (one foot) of precipitation within just 24 hours.
Streets turned into raging rivers, leaving vehicles half-submerged, while emergency teams carried out 17 rescues overnight to save individuals trapped in fast-moving floodwaters, according to Queensland Premier David Crisafulli.
“We are experiencing both flash floods and rising river levels across the southeast. The risk of further intensified flooding remains high,” Crisafulli stated.
The crisis has left 185,000 properties in Queensland and 10,000 in New South Wales without electricity.
Utility companies are deploying helicopters to assess infrastructure damage in remote areas, according to Essential Energy officials.
“The storm remains erratic and unpredictable. We anticipate additional heavy rainfall in the next 24 hours,” New South Wales Premier Chris Minns cautioned.
The deadly storm claimed its first known victim—a 61-year-old man whose vehicle was swept off a bridge in northern New South Wales. He attempted to cling to a tree branch before being carried away by the raging current. Authorities later recovered his body.
Additionally, a separate incident saw 13 soldiers injured when their military trucks overturned while attempting to clear flood-affected roads. One soldier remains hospitalized but is in stable condition, according to Defence Minister Richard Marles.
With evacuation orders lifted in most areas, authorities are now shifting focus to damage control and power restoration. However, the unpredictability of the weather pattern means residents must remain vigilant.