Millions of residents along Australia’s eastern coast are bracing for the arrival of a very slow-moving storm, the strongest tropical cyclone to threaten the region in more than 50 years. Tropical Cyclone Alfred is expected to make landfall late Friday or early Saturday with the strength of an Atlantic tropical storm.

SYDNEY: Thousands of residents in Australia's east were ordered to evacuate ahead of Tropical Cyclone Alfred's landfall on Saturday (Mar 8) as the storm brought heavy rains, huge waves and strong winds that cut off power, eroded beaches and closed airports.

Alfred is forecast to make landfall near Brisbane, the capital of Queensland and Australia’s third largest city.