Australia's Queensland suffers worst loss of power in history amid warnings of weeklong blackout

By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) - More than 300,000 homes remain without power in Australia's Queensland state, while tens of thousands could be without power for up to a week as crews are struggling to make repairs due to challenging weather conditions in the areas worst hit by Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

Emergency services are urging residents to avoid driving through floodwaters caused by Cyclone Alfred as heavy rainfall continues to batter New South Wales and Queensland, Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported on Sunday.

Authorities estimated that 750,000 people have been affected since the blackouts began.

Authorities said it could take up to one week to restore power in some areas, as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed that 13 Australian Defense Forces (ADF) personnel have been “seriously injured” during the wild weather.

"That's the largest ever loss of power from a natural disaster in Queensland's history," Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said on Saturday evening.

Heavy rain and strong winds gusting up to 100 kilometers (62 miles) per hour battered the Brisbane region on Saturday night.

Weather forecasters expect up to 700 millimeters (27.6 inches) of rain and destructive gusts continuing through to Monday.

Albanese said the situation across Queensland and NSW remained "very serious" with heavy rainfall, damaging wind gusts, and coast surf impacts expected in the coming days.

More than 100,000 are without power on the Gold Coast, while around 50,000 in Brisbane city.

Northern NSW is facing a flooding crisis with multiple major flood warnings in place for the Tweed, Richmond, Wilsons, Brunswick, Orara, Clarence and Bellingen rivers.

Two army trucks engaged in route clearance work crashed south of Lismore on Saturday, injuring more than 30 people, including 13 ADF personnel.