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Sunday, Mar 09, 2025
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Emergency Response Amidst Severe Weather in New South Wales and Queensland
Army personnel injured in truck collision as floodwaters wreak havoc in the region.
Emergency services have responded to a serious incident involving two army trucks in Tregeagle, located nine kilometers south of Lismore, New South Wales, on Saturday evening.
More than 20 ambulance units mobilized to assist a total of 36 patients involved in the collision.
While several patients were transported to Tweed and Lismore Hospitals for treatment, authorities from NSW Ambulance reported that not all individuals required hospitalization.
This incident prompted a statement from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, who is also the Minister for Defence.
The officials confirmed that multiple Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel sustained injuries, some of which are serious.
They stressed that medical assistance was available on-site and emphasized the ongoing nature of the situation, highlighting a focus on the wellbeing of those affected and their families.
The personnel were en route to provide assistance to communities impacted by the ongoing severe weather conditions.
In related events, a search operation was concluded with the recovery of the body of a 61-year-old man who had gone missing in flood waters.
The man was previously reported to have been swept away after his vehicle became submerged near Megan, approximately 25 kilometers north of Dorrigo.
He was able to reach safety by climbing into a tree but was ultimately swept away before emergency crews could reach him.
His body was found later on Saturday afternoon following extensive search efforts lasting more than 24 hours.
Meanwhile, ex-tropical cyclone Alfred, which has been downgraded, continued to affect Southeast Queensland, where gusts exceeding 90 km/h were recorded on the Gold Coast.
The conditions remained precarious, prompting officials to warn residents against complacency, as the storm remnants could still produce dangerous weather.
Estimates indicate that regions in southeast Queensland could experience as much as 500 mm of rain as the system moves inland, with significant flooding risks anticipated across affected areas.
The severe weather has led to widespread power outages, affecting over 200,000 people in southeastern and northern New South Wales, marking the largest loss of electrical power in Queensland's history.
Energex crews have been deployed to restore services, although efforts on the Gold Coast have faced challenges due to the ongoing high winds.
The power utility indicated that full restoration might take up to a week.
While emergency warnings were lifted in Queensland, many residents in New South Wales continued to face uncertainty following evacuations due to flooding risks.
There were no reported fatalities in Queensland, although emergency services responded to a case of carbon monoxide poisoning involving four individuals on the Gold Coast, potentially linked to the improper use of a generator indoors.
The Acting Mayor of Gold Coast, Donna Gates, issued safety recommendations advising residents to use generators outdoors to avoid similar incidents.
As a precautionary measure, residents in northern New South Wales, particularly in the Tweed Shire Council and Bilambil Heights, have been advised to conserve drinking water and to boil tap water due to disruptions in reservoir supplies caused by power outages.
Approximately 180 ADF personnel were deployed to support efforts in the two states, with more on standby as needed.
Shops began reopening across Queensland on Saturday, while both Brisbane and Gold Coast airports planned to resume operations on Sunday, subject to safety assessments.
Supermarkets are also reopening gradually, and certain public transport services are expected to resume operations, although train services in southeast Queensland and buses on the Gold Coast remain suspended.
NSW Premier Chris Minns stressed that the emergency situation had not yet concluded, warning that high rainfall levels and extreme wind conditions were persisting, particularly in the Byron Shire area extending to the Queensland border.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Albanese reiterated the need for vigilance, cautioning residents to remain indoors and avoid floodwaters.
Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred had earlier crossed Moreton Island as a category one storm before weakening into a tropical low and lingering off the coast, with forecasts indicating continued heavy rainfall over southeast Queensland and northeast New South Wales.
More than 20 ambulance units mobilized to assist a total of 36 patients involved in the collision.
While several patients were transported to Tweed and Lismore Hospitals for treatment, authorities from NSW Ambulance reported that not all individuals required hospitalization.
This incident prompted a statement from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, who is also the Minister for Defence.
The officials confirmed that multiple Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel sustained injuries, some of which are serious.
They stressed that medical assistance was available on-site and emphasized the ongoing nature of the situation, highlighting a focus on the wellbeing of those affected and their families.
The personnel were en route to provide assistance to communities impacted by the ongoing severe weather conditions.
In related events, a search operation was concluded with the recovery of the body of a 61-year-old man who had gone missing in flood waters.
The man was previously reported to have been swept away after his vehicle became submerged near Megan, approximately 25 kilometers north of Dorrigo.
He was able to reach safety by climbing into a tree but was ultimately swept away before emergency crews could reach him.
His body was found later on Saturday afternoon following extensive search efforts lasting more than 24 hours.
Meanwhile, ex-tropical cyclone Alfred, which has been downgraded, continued to affect Southeast Queensland, where gusts exceeding 90 km/h were recorded on the Gold Coast.
The conditions remained precarious, prompting officials to warn residents against complacency, as the storm remnants could still produce dangerous weather.
Estimates indicate that regions in southeast Queensland could experience as much as 500 mm of rain as the system moves inland, with significant flooding risks anticipated across affected areas.
The severe weather has led to widespread power outages, affecting over 200,000 people in southeastern and northern New South Wales, marking the largest loss of electrical power in Queensland's history.
Energex crews have been deployed to restore services, although efforts on the Gold Coast have faced challenges due to the ongoing high winds.
The power utility indicated that full restoration might take up to a week.
While emergency warnings were lifted in Queensland, many residents in New South Wales continued to face uncertainty following evacuations due to flooding risks.
There were no reported fatalities in Queensland, although emergency services responded to a case of carbon monoxide poisoning involving four individuals on the Gold Coast, potentially linked to the improper use of a generator indoors.
The Acting Mayor of Gold Coast, Donna Gates, issued safety recommendations advising residents to use generators outdoors to avoid similar incidents.
As a precautionary measure, residents in northern New South Wales, particularly in the Tweed Shire Council and Bilambil Heights, have been advised to conserve drinking water and to boil tap water due to disruptions in reservoir supplies caused by power outages.
Approximately 180 ADF personnel were deployed to support efforts in the two states, with more on standby as needed.
Shops began reopening across Queensland on Saturday, while both Brisbane and Gold Coast airports planned to resume operations on Sunday, subject to safety assessments.
Supermarkets are also reopening gradually, and certain public transport services are expected to resume operations, although train services in southeast Queensland and buses on the Gold Coast remain suspended.
NSW Premier Chris Minns stressed that the emergency situation had not yet concluded, warning that high rainfall levels and extreme wind conditions were persisting, particularly in the Byron Shire area extending to the Queensland border.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Albanese reiterated the need for vigilance, cautioning residents to remain indoors and avoid floodwaters.
Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred had earlier crossed Moreton Island as a category one storm before weakening into a tropical low and lingering off the coast, with forecasts indicating continued heavy rainfall over southeast Queensland and northeast New South Wales.
