1- Cyclone in Australia. Cyclone Bianca in Western Australia not cause so much damage and Cyclone Yasi following Cyclone Anthony in North Queensland had caused devastated damages to properties(thousands of houses were wrecked, shops had been destroyed and the worst is for banana lovers whereby 90% of banana tress were down but no worries if you still have other fruits or if you are taking banana for the potassium, then just take potassium supplement then from nearby pharmacy. The banana tree will regrow since they all not uprooted like palm tress).
Read the chronology event here :
Cyclone Yasi was the largest and most powerful cyclone to hit Queensland in living memory.
Cyclone Yasi made landfall in North Queensland about 1am (AEDT) on February 3 and continues to make its way inland. The key developments:
- The first Yasi-related death was announced today after a 23-year-old man was found dead in his home last night. Police said he was killed by fumes from a generator he was running inside a closed room after the storm knocked out electricity.
- Police are looking for two men not seen since the cyclone, one of whom was reported missing by his sister in Brisbane and the other by an overseas friend on Tuesday after speaking by phone from his yacht at Port Hinchinbrook.
- Cyclone Yasi weakened to a tropical depression overnight and the cyclone warning for inland towns including Mt Isa was cancelled, though locals were warned winds could still reach 90km/h.
- The hardest hit communities are Cardwell, Tully, Innisfail and Mission Beach. There are major concerns of flooding in Townsville, Ingham and Giru. Police will search today for a man last seen moving his boat before the cyclone struck.
- The cyclone has left 150,000 homes without power. Premier Anna Bligh says thousands will be made homeless. Disaster relief payments have been activated for residents affected by the cyclone. There are concerns about water supply in Townsville and Magnetic Island.
2.15pm Victims of Cyclone Yasi returning to their homes should beware of contact with asbestos, the Asbestos Diseases Foundation (ADFA) of Australia said.
ADFA President Barry Robson said "heartbroken families sifting through the remains of their houses searching for valuables may unwittingly expose themselves to asbestos contamination."
"Asbestos is found in many Australian houses built before 1984, as well as in outbuildings and sheds on farms.
2.07pm Queensland's Hamilton Island is welcoming guests back, in an early sign the state's tourism industry is beginning the recovery process after Cyclone Yasi.
Residents, holiday-makers and staff were evacuated on Tuesday as a precautionary measure as the cyclone approached.
Ferry services to the island resumed yesterday, all regularly scheduled flights returned today and all tour operators and other outlets on the island have reopened.
Any guests affected by the evacuation can rebook with the island without incurring any penalties.
1.56pm Cairns.com.au is running a live blog now.
1.45pm The Courier Mail has an impressive multimedia package showing how a low pressure system became one of the biggest storms in Queensland's living memory. You can have a look at it here.
1.38pm Food and other shortages are looming in north Queensland, with the premier on her way back to Brisbane to tackle the critical issue.
Premier Anna Bligh has been in the region touring the devastation left by Cyclone Yasi, but is heading back to Brisbane for high level talks about resupplying the north.
"We have major cuts to the Bruce Highway, so we're working with retailers to get supplies, particularly north of Townsville," she told reporters in Cairns.
ADFA President Barry Robson said "heartbroken families sifting through the remains of their houses searching for valuables may unwittingly expose themselves to asbestos contamination."
"Asbestos is found in many Australian houses built before 1984, as well as in outbuildings and sheds on farms.
2.07pm Queensland's Hamilton Island is welcoming guests back, in an early sign the state's tourism industry is beginning the recovery process after Cyclone Yasi.
Residents, holiday-makers and staff were evacuated on Tuesday as a precautionary measure as the cyclone approached.
Ferry services to the island resumed yesterday, all regularly scheduled flights returned today and all tour operators and other outlets on the island have reopened.
Any guests affected by the evacuation can rebook with the island without incurring any penalties.
1.56pm Cairns.com.au is running a live blog now.
1.45pm The Courier Mail has an impressive multimedia package showing how a low pressure system became one of the biggest storms in Queensland's living memory. You can have a look at it here.
Premier Anna Bligh has been in the region touring the devastation left by Cyclone Yasi, but is heading back to Brisbane for high level talks about resupplying the north.
"We have major cuts to the Bruce Highway, so we're working with retailers to get supplies, particularly north of Townsville," she told reporters in Cairns.
1.32pm Compare a drive down Tully's main street in 2007 with today after Tropical Cyclone Yasi, in this video.
