Key Points
- Residents brace themselves as Cyclone Alfred gets closer to making landfall
- An emotional family reunion for a rower rescued off Mackay
- Australian teenager sprint sensation Gout Gout's next sporting challenge
TRANSCRIPT
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he has approved request for 120 Australian defence force personnel to depart immediately for New South Wales to help with the response to Cyclone Alfred.
The latest forecast from the Bureau of Meteorology has further pushed out the time when Cyclone Alfred is expected to make landfall to later Saturday morning, at around 11am.
Up to 4.5 million residents and around 1.8 million homes are in the impact zone.
The storm system has tracked further south than is typical for cyclones in this region, with Alfred being the first to hit southeast Queensland and northeast New South Wales in more than 50 years.
The communities expected to be worst impacted include Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Byron Bay and Ballina.
But warnings of flood, rain and damaging winds have also extended the area of impact further south to include Coffs Harbour, Sawtell, Woolgoolga; and Dorrigo inland.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the erratic behaviour of the storm system, means the best preparations must be put in place.
"We absolutely need to prepare for the worst. This is already having an impact. And the impact with the slowing of the Cyclone Alfred in its journey westward to the coast... We should not think slower means better. As it is over warmer waters, it has the potential to increase the intensity of it."
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Ahead of the imminent arrival of Cyclone Alfred, severe winds and heavy rain have already caused damage.
More than 68,000 homes and businesses in south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales are without power.
Essential Energy says the worst hit areas are in the Northern Rivers and Far North Coast.
Energex says there are around 33,000 customers without power across southeast Queensland - mostly in Redland, Gold Coast, Logan and Scenic Rim council areas.
Energex spokesperson Kevin Lavender says it will take some time to fully restore the power.
"In a cyclone event, we have to focus on the safety of our people. So at some point, we will be standing our crews down until it is safe to respond. So with the cyclone, it is going to be an extended event. So we have experienced extended events previously, such as the Gold Coast event just over 12 months ago. So this won't be a short, sharp response. It will be a prolonged event. So please be patient. We do appreciate all the support the community can provide."
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A Lithuanian rower who was rescued by the Australian navy after three days in rough sea conditions has been reunited with his wife.
Solo sailor Aurimas Mockus was attempting a 12,000-kilometre Pacific Ocean crossing from San Diego to Brisbane in his rowing boat when he ran into trouble about 740 kilometres east of Mackay.
Tropical Cyclone had generated turbulent ocean waters, forcing Mockus to activate his emergency beacon late on Friday [[28 Feb]].
The unfavourable sea conditions meant his rowing boat could not be recovered, except for two oars and some personal items.
Mockus says it such a big relief to survive those three days being stuck at sea in such rough conditions.
"Many times, many hours I fight for my life because my boat are sinking, the time when I start this trip for my family and then I return."
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European leaders have backed plans to spend more on defence as they pledged to continue to stand by Ukraine.
At an emergency summit in Brussels, leaders of the 27-nation EU bloc have have discussed ways to make sure Ukraine will still be properly protected.
It follows the decision by the United States to suspend military aid and restrict intelligence sharing with Ukraine.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says it is important for leaders in Europe to take urgent action.
"I present today to the leaders: the “ReArm Europe Plan.” The 'ReArm Europe Plan' provides up to 800 billion euros for defence investment. It gives the member states fiscal space to invest in defence."
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In athletics, teenage sprint sensation Gout Gout continues his pursuit of excellence, with his next challenge to compete in Peter Norman Memorial 200-metre event at the Maurie Plant Meet in Melbourne later this month [[29 March]].
The event is named in honour of Australia’s legendary Olympic sprinter Peter Norman.
It was his record of 20.06 seconds from 1968 that Gout broke in December at the Australian All Schools Athletics Championships in Brisbane.
His time of 20.04 seconds made him the fastest 16-year-old 200-metre runner in history.
It also saw him claim a world record as the fastest 16-year-old half-lap runner of all time, beating the record set by Usain Bolt at the same age.
The Brisbane-born 17-year-old of South Sudanese descent says he competed in the Maurie Plant Meet last year - and he is looking forward to seeing how he can improve this time around.
