Cyclone Alfred Ravages Coast Beaches, Triggering Massive Erosion

The storm stripped away 80% of the coastline's sand, leaving steep cliffs and prompting urgent restoration efforts to revive tourism.

Cyclone Alfred caused severe coastal erosion on Australia's Gold Coast, washing away approximately 6 million cubic meters of sand, equivalent to 2,000 Olympic swimming pools.
The storm created sand cliffs up to six meters high, drastically altering the landscape of iconic beaches such as Surfers Paradise and Main Beach.
Local officials are racing to restore the beaches by Easter, deploying heavy machinery and preparing dredging operations to pump sand back onto the shore.
Experts note that much of the sand has formed offshore sandbars and may naturally return over time, though dunes will take significantly longer to recover fully.
The erosion has sparked discussions on long-term climate resilience, with calls for improved coastal defenses and potential managed retreat from vulnerable areas.