My message today, and we do have a bit of rain left to go, is overwhelmingly you must always put your safety first. That's number one in a disaster. Property can be replaced, people can't."

Cyclone Alfred weakened into a tropical low Saturday but still threatened to unleash major floods on swollen rivers as it approached the rain and wind-lashed eastern coast of Australia.

The Australian prime minister has warned there is "worse to come" after a low tropical weather system brought heavy rain, strong winds and flooding to the country's east coast. Anthony Albanese said the impacts of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred are already being felt across parts of Queensland and New South Wales,

Australia braced for a rare east coast tropical cyclone that is swirling towards Brisbane, its third-most populous city, with authorities urging residents in flood-prone suburbs to evacuate soon.