Frantic search for missing 12yo girl as Cyclone Alfred approaches coast

Police are searching for a 12-year-old girl who has been missing from the Brisbane area since Wednesday as Tropical Cyclone Alfred approaches southeast Queensland.

Police are searching for a 12-year-old girl who has been missing for two days near Brisbane as Tropical Cyclone Alfred closes in on the southeast Queensland coast.

The 12-year-old was last seen in Redland Bay at 6pm Wednesday, March 5, and has not been seen or heard from since.

“Family and police have concerns for the girl due to her age and the current weather event,” a statement from police read.

The girl has been described as Pacific Islander, approximately 150cm tall, with dark hair and brown eyes.

She is known to frequent the Brisbane CBD, Southbank, Fortitude Valley and major shopping centres.

Queensland Police are searching for a 12-year-old girl who has gone missing as Tropical Cyclone Alfred hits the region. Picture: Queensland Police

The Bureau of Meteorology projects the eye of category two Tropical Cyclone Alfred to hit Moreton Island, approximately 50kms east of Brisbane on early Saturday.

“Heavy rainfall bands are continuing to extend over southeast Queensland and northeast NSW coastal areas” the bureau said on Friday morning.

“Heavy to locally intense rainfall which may lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding may develop from this afternoon.

“Once Alfred crosses the coast, it is likely to weaken below tropical cyclone strength during Saturday.”

The category two tropical cyclone currently has sustained winds near the centre of 100km/h with wind gusts to 140km/h, and is slowly moving towards Brisbane and the surrounding areas.

“People between Cape Moreton and Yamba, including the Moreton Bay Islands should immediately commence or continue preparations, especially securing boats and property,” the bureau said.

Tropical Cyclone Alfred is forecast to make landfall on Saturday. Picture: NewsWire / John Gass

On Wednesday, Queensland Police began deploying officers to areas including the Moreton and Bay Island areas, completing doorknocks across mainland Brisbane, including Victoria Point, Nudgee Beach and Sandgate and are “advising people who wanted to stay with friends and family in a safer location, to do so as soon as possible”.

Redland City Council has nominated six places of refuge for residents unable to take refuge elsewhere during the tropical cyclone.

The places of refuge are located:
– Cleveland Assembly Hall, 46 Smith Street Hall, Cleveland

– Dunwich Community Hall, 6 Ballow Road, North Stradbroke Island

– Macleay Island Community Hall, cnr Southsea Terrace and High Central Road, Macleay Island

– Bimsara Hall, 2 Union Street, Russell Island

– Pioneer Hall, 125 Lucas Drive, Lamb Island

– Coochiemudlo Recreation Club, 41b Elizabeth Street, Coochiemudlo