Powerful cyclone slams into flood-hit Queensland
More than 170,000 homes were without power in Queensland after a cyclone hit the already massive floods ravaged the northern Australian state, according to emergency services minister. Some areas may be without power for several weeks.
No serious injuries that have been reported since Tropical Cyclone Yasi roared ashore, but emergency services are still working their way through the affected region.
So far, the most affected cities seem to be in an area approximately 90 miles 150 miles south of Cairns, said.
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh described the conditions of the local television networks, and said that many coastal cities suffer power cuts. In Cairns, only 34% of households have electricity. Townsville, south of Cairns, has the power only about 15% of households. Further along the coast of Queensland, the electricity in half of Mackay and Proserpine, and all the people of Ingham left without electricity.
Bligh said tens of thousands of power outages were caused by falling power lines and disrupt. power lines going in coastal communities were cut south of the town of Innisfail.
It is not clear why it is cut, and we do not know, before entering into the air and check all the time that the system, said Bligh. I would say that he must control the 400 km line of 248 km and 500 transmission towers.
It could take weeks to repair the problems, Bligh said, an assessment confirmed by the Minister for Emergency Services Queensland.
Tropical Cyclone Yasi is now a category 2 storm, which is considerably lower, but still able to bring high winds and heavy rains in the interior regions of the country. Yasi moves westward. Wind speeds could reach up to 77 miles timen i 125 km per hour and heavy rains may cause local flooding Thursday and today to come, "she said.
Joe Vella, who lives in Cairns, said that when the wind landed Yasi sounded like a sledgehammer to hit home, and that it took four hours. Our hearts were sore to think about what was happening.
Tropical Cyclone Yasi landfall Wednesday evening local time, so powerful Category 5 storm, the highest designation in the classification system in Australia.
Previously, the Premier of Queensland, Anna Bligh has warned residents can only survive for a few days.
I can not sugarcoat it for people. Will be a tough 24 hours. For some it will be difficult for a couple of days, "he said at a news conference. Must be prepared for the worst, and that could mean they have to be self-sufficient for several days.
Carl Butcher, another resident of Cairns, said that before the storm, I have all my meals ready, batteries and candles. The authorities have been very active in informing us of this system. We have known him for a week. It 'more than enough time to prepare.
Of particular interest is six adults, Port Hinchinbrook, who apparently ignored the advice to evacuate storm wave, before calling the emergency services for help. The police, who is in touch with them by telephone, said the group is currently squatting in an apartment on the second floor, but the tide is expected to rise to the top of the first floor.
Head of State, Anna Bligh, has urged residents in threatened areas to take reasonable precautions and remain indoors when the storm struck.
Be an example of the awesome power of nature, but not something you want to go out and see, "he said.
Hurricane threatens the destruction of more and Queensland, where 20 people died and thousands of homes destroyed by severe floods in January, which affected 3.1 million people.
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has announced a one-time fee, which is designed to help and will pay about AUS $ 5600000000 $ 5580000000 in the United States caused by the flood.