Gusts of wind reaching up to 290 mph tore off roofs, uprooted trees and destroyed electric cables causing power outages during the passage of one of the most powerful tropical storm in recent memory on the coast of Queensland. “The destructive core of Cyclone Yasi has begun to sweep the coast between Innisfail and Cardwell, causing huge waves,” the Bureau of Meteorology said in a statement. The storm made its entrance near a beach at the heart of a tourist and farm area 180 km south of Cairns near the Great Barrier Reef .
Forecasters say the cyclone was very tough running at maximum power for at least four hours. However, residents and tourists, who were asked by the authorities not to go out, holed up in their homes and hotels to escape what has been called the “worst storm in the region over the past generations’ by weather services. Earlier in the day Wednesday, the Bureau of Meteorology announced that the intensity of the cyclone had been raised from four to five, the maximum category, cautioning “against the worst cyclone ever observed in generations.”
No deaths or serious injuries have yet been reported however according to the head of the state government of Queensland, Anna Bligh. In addition, Ms Bligh said, “all our evacuation centers report that they have not suffered structural damage during the night. Fortunately, the people we’ve received in these facilities are safe and sound and ready to go this morning. More than 10,000 residents and tourists took refuge in 20 shelters across the region while tens of thousands more were sheltered with relatives or friends. About 4,000 soldiers were mobilized to help residents if necessary after the hurricane.”
But Yasi has caused extensive damage in the cities most affected and 175,000 homes are currently without electricity , the Prime Minister of the State noted. Local media have reported “massive devastation” in the town of Tully, citing roofs torn off, utility poles down and people trying to seal doors and windows to prevent water from invading their homes.
On Wednesday, the Bureau of Meteorology warned against Yasi, saying it was the first tropical storm to reach Category 5 occur in the region since 1918. The eye of Cyclone Yasi estimated at 35 km in diameter hit densely populated coastal zone, between Cairns and Cardwell, two cities with about 130,000 inhabitants each. Its size and intensity could exceed that of Cyclone Tracy, which devastated the city of Darwin (north) in 1974, making 71 people and destroying 90% of homes.