Yasi weakens, but could bring more flooding to Queensland
When a strong tropical storm to Category 1 storm Yasi fell on Thursday, but was still expected to bring heavy rains and winds of Australian domestic wind, meteorologists said.
The rain could produce localized flooding in the already water-logged for days. Another 4 to 8 inches from 100mm to 200mm is predicted from Townsville, north of Mackay along the coast.
Massive cyclone was a Category 5 storm when it hit the coast of Queensland, shortly after midnight Thursday, leaving more than 170 000 homes without electricity, according to emergency services minister. Some areas may be without power for weeks.
Neil Roberts said on CNN, who said that there were no serious injuries were reported after the hurricane roared Yasi countries, but emergency crews still working their way to the affected areas.
Carly Wallace, who lives in Tolga, about 28 km 46 km southwest of the coastal city of Cairns, the storm at home with his sister and her family.
22 hours 30 he began to pick up and the winds began to be really strong. There were many things that happen in our roof. It was pretty scary, "she said.
It was difficult to get any rest. We tried to sleep but wakes up howling winds and the windows rattle, "said Wallace.
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh described the conditions of the local television networks, and said that many coastal cities suffer power cuts.
Cairns, only 34% of households had electricity. Townsville, south of Cairns, has the power to only about 15% of households. Farther down the coast of Queensland, half of the electricity from Mackay and Proserpine, and the entire city was without electricity Ingham.
Bligh said the tens of thousands of power outages due to downed lines and broken transfer. The electricity comes in coastal communities south of the city were cut Innisfail.
It is unclear why it was cut and we will not know until we're able to get into the air and check the entire system, "said Bligh." I must say, that require control 400 km 248 miles of line and 500 transmission towers.
It may take weeks to repair problems Bligh said an assessment confirmed by the Minister for Emergency Services Queensland.
Yasi moving west-southwest. Wind speeds could reach up to 77 miles timen i 125 km per hour, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
Joe Vella, a resident of Cairns, said the wind when landing Yasi sounded like a hammer hitting your house, which lasted four hours. "Our hearts are in my throat thinking about what would happen," he said.
Thousands of people fled their homes before the storm, forecasters warned that it was one of the worst the country has ever seen.
Previously, Bligh warned residents who may have to cope alone for several days.
I can not sweeten this to people: It will be difficult for 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 it might mean to be independent of a pair of days.
Carl Boucher, another resident of Cairns, said before the storm, I have all my rations ready to go, batteries, candles. The authorities have been very proactive in bringing this system. We've known about this for a week. That's more than enough time to prepare.
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 broad tax to help pay the approximately AUS $ U.S. $ 5600000000 5.58 billion in damages caused by flooding.