Anticipated Relief: Updates on Ex-Cyclone Alfred's Impact

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Key Points

Over 300,000 of properties affected by ex-TC Alfred are without power. in Queensland.
Conditions and rainfall is expected to ease on Monday.
Residents in affected areas are being urged to follow advice and avoid driving in floodwaters

Multiple people have been rescued from cars and homes as the remnants of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred wreaked havoc across south-east Queensland, leaving 320,000 homes still without power and warnings that the skies will remain “unsettled” across the region on Monday.

In Hervey Bay, where more than 230mm of rain was dumped in just six hours, rescuers saved seven people trapped in cars, and evacuated residents in nine homes as flash flooding hit the city.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said the rain had “packed a punch”, with reports of flash flooding affecting homes and businesses.

“There has been a number of swift water rescues, and I just want to say a huge debt of gratitude to those emergency services personnel,” he said.

More than 100 roads were closed in Brisbane alone as a result of flash flooding.

‘Challenges’ to restoring power

Around 450,000 homes and businesses in Queensland had lost power, and over 350,000 remained without electricity as of Sunday afternoon.

This was an increase from Saturday’s figures in what Crisafulli described as the “largest ever loss of power from a natural disaster in Queensland’s history”.

Around 750,000 people have been affected since the blackouts began.

An uprooted tree crashed into a house with debris scattered around

A fallen gum tree is seen impacting a house at Mudgeeraba on the Gold Coast. Source: AAP / Dave Hunt

It could take up to a week to restore power in some areas according to Energex area manger Chris Graham, as the effects from Alfred cause “prolonged outages” in Queensland.

As of 3.00pm Sunday, in and another were without power, with energy companies warning that floods could hamper repairs.

More than 100,000 are without power on the Gold Coast, and nearly 50,000 in Brisbane city.

“We managed to get 70,000 customers back on yesterday only to have an extra 100,000 customers get turned off last night,” Graham told ABC News.

“In some of those worst affected areas there’s going to be potential for a prolonged outage. It could be up to a week.”

When will the weather conditions ease?

Authorities said while the worst of the rainfall would be copped on Sunday, conditions are expected to ease on Monday.

“But don’t expect that the skies will be clear on Monday. It will be unsettled,” Sue Oates from the Bureau of Meteorology told reporters on Sunday.

An uprooted tree and flooded walkway by the coast

A tree lies fallen on the beach front following cyclone Alfred on the Gold Coast. Source: AP / John Pye

“And we are expecting showers and potentially thunderstorms through our area (Queensland).”

Forecasters expect up to 700mm of rain and destructive gusts continuing through to Monday.

The system would shift south of the Queensland border, where the conditions will be greater and heavier, Oates said.

Conditions for eastern Australia are expected to ease on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the situation across Queensland and NSW remained “very serious” with heavy rainfall, damaging wind gusts, and coast surf impacts expected in the coming days.

“I urge everyone to continue to listen carefully to the emergency authorities,” he told reporters.

Days of no water and power for Lismore

Around 15,000 people throughout NSW are still under 36 evacuation warnings, with NSW North Coast Minister Rose Jackson noting 800 have sought shelter in the state’s 21 evacuation centres on Sunday.

The weather event turned deadly when a body, believed to be a 61-year-old man, was found after a day-long search in NSW.

The man’s ute was swept into floodwaters at Megan, about 25km north of Dorrigo.

Trees fallen across power lines in front of white townhouses

Fallen trees over powerlines at Labrador on the Gold Coast. Source: AAP / Dave Hunt

Residents in Lismore have been without power and access to water for 72 hours, its deputy mayor said Sunday.

“Even though there’s a lot of water around, there’s no toilets or showers where we are,” Jeri Hall said.

“We have been cut off since Thursday morning. So the water is dropping but it is dropping slowly. We just hope that we don’t get this rain that looks like it’s hanging off the coast again.”

A flooded road next to a sign that warns against crossing dangerous terrain

Moderate flooding along the Tweed River near Tumbulgum, inundating low lying areas. Source: SBS News / Alexandra Jones

Essential Energy said power has been restored at 19,000 locations, saying challenges include getting to hinterland areas and clearing vegetation.

It could be a number of days before power, communication and in some case water can be restored according to an SES spokesperson.

NSW SES operational commander Stuart Fisher said warnings to locals in the area will be adjusted as they monitor risk in the area.

He urged people to stay safe and avoid floodwaters as the rains subside.

“Do not drive through flood waters. It absolutely astounds me that this still occurs.”

Injured ADF personnel ‘heroes’

The emergency disaster has also impacted those sent to help flood victims with .

Australian Army soldiers from 8th/9th Battalion arrived in Lismore this week to assist northern New South Wales communities in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Alfred. Source: AP / Raymond Vance

Thirteen Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel were hospitalised, six of them seriously.

Albanese thanked the ADF members and described them as “heroes who were on their way to help people in need”.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles speak to the media

Defence Minister Richard Marles (left) and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (right) have praised ADF personnel assisting communities in the wake of ex-tropical cyclone Alfred. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch

Clean-up begins in southeast Queensland

As clean up efforts began in Queensland, public services and shops resumed operation on a case-by-case basis.

Crisafull said schools that had suffered significant damage, would stay closed but parents would be notified on Sunday evening on which schools would be open.