Australians told to prepare for worst as tropical cyclone nears

A fallen tree sits across a road in front of buildings in Coolangatta on March 7, 2025. Violent winds toppled power lines on March 7 as Tropical Cyclone Alfred inched towards Australia's eastern coast, sparking evacuation orders and leaving more than 50,000 homes without electricity. - AFP

GOLD COAST: Violent winds toppled power lines Friday (March 7) as a tropical cyclone inched towards Australia's eastern coast, swelling rivers, sparking evacuation orders and leaving 80,000 homes without electricity.

Tropical Cyclone Alfred was 125 kilometres (80 miles) east of Brisbane by Friday afternoon, crawling towards the densely populated coastline at "walking speed", government forecasts said.