Residents on Australia’s east coast are preparing for Tropical Cyclone Alfred, a rare event expected to hit Brisbane as a Category 2 storm with wind gusts of up to 155 km/h.
The storm warning extends over 500 km along the coast of Queensland and New South Wales, affecting 2.5 million people.
Meteorologists predict up to 800 mm of rainfall in some regions.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese noted that it is very rare for cyclones to hit this part of Australia. As a precaution, 122 schools have been closed.