The Australian military deployed to the Lismore area in New South Wales to provide assistance in case nearby rivers overflowed during the storm. At least 36 military personnel were injured in a collision involving two army trucks on Saturday near Lismore. Some of the Defense Force members sustained serious injuries in the crash. Emergency response units and paramedics, along with helicopters, were dispatched to the scene to rescue and transport the injured to hospitals. The condition of the injured troops was not disclosed, but Prime Minister Anthony Albanese mentioned that some injuries were severe. Albanese and Defense Minister Richard Marles emphasized their focus on the well-being of those affected and their families. Australian troops have been aiding in the aftermath of ex-tropical cyclone Alfred, which brought heavy rain and strong winds to the east coast. The remnants of the cyclone are expected to move westward across Australia, leading to more heavy rainfall and the potential for flooding. The Bureau of Meteorology warned of the risk of flash and riverine flooding due to intense rainfall. While cyclones are common in Queensland’s tropical regions, they are infrequent in the densely populated southeastern area bordering New South Wales. Unfortunately, a 61-year-old man was reported as the storm’s first fatality after his body was found in a flooded river near Dorrigo in New South Wales.
