Residents brace for cyclone near east coast of Australia

Citizens are stacking sandbags to protect their properties ahead of a tropical cyclone forecast to become the first in 51 years to hit the Australian east coast near Brisbane, the nation’s thirdmost populous city.

- STAFF REPORTER

Tropical Cyclone Alfred is forecast to cross the coast between the Queensland state capital Brisbane and the tourist city of Gold Coast to the south late today or early tomorrow, Bureau of Meteorology manager Matt Collopy said.

Brisbane and Gold Coast are a continuous urban sprawl. Their centres are around 50 miles apart.

Alfred was over the Pacific Ocean 250 miles east of Brisbane and tracking west yesterday with sustained winds near the centre of 59mph and gusts of up to 81mph.

“That is destructive winds,” Mr Collopy said. The cyclone was expected to maintain that strength until reaching land.

“Large swells and powerful waves have been observed along the Queensland coast for several days now with severe coastal erosion and inundation happening,” Mr Collopy told reporters in Brisbane. “This will continue and likely get worse as the system approaches and makes landfall.”