By Kristine Sabillo Heavy rainfall and flooding damaged homes and vehicles in Australia, with locals even reporting shark sightings in inland canals. Cyclone Alfred formed over the Coral Sea on Feb. 22,

Cyclones typically form in tropical northern Australia, but Alfred is hitting the cooler centre of the eastern coast. The last cyclone to impact Brisbane was Cyclone Zoe in 1974, which caused severe flooding.

A Lithuanian rower was rescued from storm-tossed seas off Australia on Monday after paddling into a tropical cyclone while trying to cross the Pacific Ocean alone. An Australian navy vessel plucked long-distance rower Aurimas Mockus from the Coral Sea,