Australia stockpiles supplies in preparation for the impact of Cyclone Alfred.
Australia braces for worst cyclone in 50 years as millions of people along east coast stock up and evacuate to safety
The Australian Bureau of Meteorology says millions of people along Australia’s east coast are bracing for the impact of Tropical Cyclone Alfred, which is expected to make landfall in Brisbane, packing winds of 120 kilometres per hour and the equivalent of a Category 1 hurricane.
Cyclone Alfred, which made landfall south of Brisbane in Queensland, is a rare non-tropical cyclone that is similar in intensity to the one that hit Brisbane in 1974, about 50 years ago. The cyclone is expected to bring heavy rain and deadly flooding.
Brisbane residents have been sandbagging homes and stockpiling food and water from supermarket shelves in preparation for the storm, after flood warnings were issued.
Queensland Governor David Crisafulli has urged people in coastal areas at risk, such as low-lying areas, to evacuate to safer areas, and has ordered sporting events to be cancelled and schools to close today (7 March).
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