A man has disappeared in floodwater, people were ordered to evacuate their flood-prone homes and tens of thousands of premises lost power as part of the Australian east coast was lashed by wind and rain ahead of its first tropical cyclone in 51 years.

Thousands of residents in Australia's east were ordered to evacuate ahead of Tropical Cyclone Alfred's landfall on Saturday as the storm brought heavy rains, huge waves and strong winds that cut off power,

Thousands of residents have been ordered to evacuate ahead of the storm's expected hit near Brisbane, Australia's 3rd-largest city.