Transcript of Body found in floodwaters and troops injured in Australia storm | BBC News

Now, the British Prime Minister, Sakeer Starmer, has spoken to his Australian counterparts, Anthony Albanese, this morning. He expressed support for Australians, affected by a tropical storm, Alfred, which has been lashing the East Coast. In northern New South Wales, a 61-year-old man's body was found after his four-wheel drive pickup truck was swept off a bridge into a river. And near the flood-prone New South Wales city of Lysmore, with 36 defense personnel were injured after an accident involving two military trucks. Storm Alfred has been felt in Queensland as well, where more than 295,000 households have been left without power. The state's Premier has described it as the largest ever loss of power from a natural disaster in Queensland history. And Brisbane, the most populated city in Queensland, has already shut down train, ferry, and bus services. Authorities are still warning people to stay indoors. Our Australia correspondent, Katie Watson, has this report.

It wasn't the cyclone everyone was expecting, but this corner of Australia got pummled all the same. Homes pulled apart, trees down. On Saturday, the wind remained strong and the rain came in, where possible repairs began. You know the old saying, So you're crying over spilt milk. You just have to do what you can and onto the next. Yeah. Can't change it. It's happening. The body of a man who was washed away on Friday was also recovered, the victim of powerful floodwater in northern New South Wales. For days, Australians here along the Coast were facing for the arrival of cyclone Alfred. Now, it may have been downgraded, but you can see here the weather conditions are still pretty extreme. This is usually a surfer's dream, golden sand and long open beaches. But the Coast has been eaten away by the big waves. Cyclone Alfred was described by many as an unwanted dinner guest, but he never turned up, although authorities warned against complacency.

Now, while it has been downgraded, very serious risks remain. Its impact will be serious and will intensify, overcoming hours and indeed, over the coming days.

And in one of the In the most vulnerable communities of Lysmore, another setback. Thirty-six military personnel injured while helping with relief efforts. It's understood that one military vehicle overturned and was then hit by another. Several people are believed to be in a critical condition. The Exxon has taken its time to make landfall, but its lingering has prolonged the bad weather. Reports hope to reopen on Sunday, but getting back to some normality will take much longer. Katie Watson, BBC News in Queensland.