Cyclone Debbie wreaks havoc in north Australia
HOWLING winds, heavy rain and huge seas pounded Australia’s northeast yesterday, damaging homes, wrecking jetties and cutting power to thousands of people as Tropical Cyclone Debbie tore through the north of Queensland.
Wind gusts stronger than 260km/h were recorded at tourist resorts along the world-famous Great Barrier Reef as the storm made landfall as a category four, one rung below the most dangerous wind speed level.
It was later downgraded to category two.
Forecasters said high winds would likely persist overnight, although the storm would then weaken rapidly and was expected to be downgraded to category one by dawn today.
Police said one man was badly hurt when a wall collapsed at Proserpine, about 900km northwest of Brisbane, and was taken to hospital.
But the weather was still too bad to assess damage fully or mount an emergency response.
“We will also receive more reports of injuries, if not deaths. We need to be prepared for that,” Queensland Police Commissioner Ian Stewart said in Brisbane.
As the storm forged slowly inland after nightfall, state premier Annastacia Palaszczuk urged people to stay indoors.
“It is a serious event and we do not want to see loss of life,” she told the Australian Broadcasting Corp.
“It will be a difficult night for people across our state.”
Cyclone Debbie made landfall at Airlie Beach, north of Proserpine, shortly after midday, knocking out telephone services.
“It’s very noisy. Screaming, howling wind . . . sounds like a freight train,” Jan Clifford said by text from Airlie Beach as the cyclone made landfall. “Still blowing like crazy,” she said four hours later.
Authorities had urged thousands of people in threatened areas to flee their homes on Monday.
Torrential rain flooded streets and wind smashed windows, uprooted trees and tossed debris down streets, while jetties at Airlie Beach marina were wrecked, Nine Network television pictures showed.
Power was cut for 48 000 people in a wide area between the towns of Bowen and Mackay, north and south of Airlie Beach.
Ports at Abbot Point, Mackay and Hay Point were shut and Townsville airport was closed.
Airlines Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia suspended flights to and from the region and said planes may also be grounded today.
The cyclone had earlier damaged tourist resorts and torn boats from moorings as it swept through the Whitsunday islands. – Reuters