Severe Flooding in Australia as Storm 'Alfred' Delivers Record Rainfall

Australia is grappling with unprecedented rainfall and severe flooding caused by Storm 'Alfred', which has inundated parts of the eastern coastline. The city of Brisbane experienced almost a month's worth of rain within just two hours, leading to widespread inundation in several neighborhoods where streets were submerged and only the rooftops of some vehicles were visible.

In the Hervey Bay region, rainfall levels reached heights not seen since 1955, with some areas in Queensland recording over 900 millimeters of rain. For perspective, Berlin typically experiences around 580 millimeters of rain in an entire year. The storm was also accompanied by powerful winds exceeding 100 kilometers per hour, resulting in destructive waves along the coastline and damaging popular tourist beaches on the Gold Coast.

The Australian Weather Service has issued warnings about life-threatening flash flooding, prompting Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to advise citizens to take the situation seriously and prioritize their safety. Over the weekend, about 450,000 homes and businesses in Queensland and neighboring New South Wales experienced power outages. Emergency services, including thousands of volunteers and military personnel, have been deployed to rescue individuals from vehicles submerged in floodwaters, clear uprooted trees from roads, and secure fallen power lines.

Initially classified as a cyclone, 'Alfred' weakened into a tropical low before making landfall northeast of Brisbane on Saturday evening. The slow movement of the storm has exacerbated the situation, as rain-laden clouds linger over the same areas, increasing the potential for damage, according to meteorologist Christine Johnston.

Authorities had urged thousands of residents in densely populated regions to evacuate in advance of the storm's impact. Schools, supermarkets, and airports were closed, and hundreds of thousands of sandbags were distributed to help protect homes and businesses from flooding. The precautionary measures appeared to be effective; reports indicated that there was only one fatality linked to the flooding, involving a driver who was swept away after their vehicle was caught in a fast-moving river.

Interestingly, the storm's name, 'Alfred', deviates from the usual practice of naming cyclones after significant figures, as it was expected to be named 'Anthony' after the Prime Minister. However, given the upcoming parliamentary elections, the name was changed to avoid any political implications.