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BBC MUNDO RADIO
Philip Duncan of WeatherWatch.co.nz on how Queensland fared after being hit by Tropical Cyclone Yasi.
Cyclone Yasi aftermath to bring massive storm surges and flooding
- From: AAP
- February 03, 2011
- North Queensland SES 132 500
- Forecasts: Latest weather and warnings
- Special Report: In-depth coverage of cyclone Yasi
UPDATE 12.50pm: QUEENSLAND police have issued an urgent warning to people in Richmond, 400kms west-southwest of Townsville, to seek safety as Cyclone Yasi approaches.
Police say residents should take immediate actions to ensure their safety as Yasi approaches their community.
A local safety warning has been issued, but police are concerned anyone in transit may not have been contacted.
The warning comes as Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said evacuation centres in Cairns and Townsville would remain in lockdown due to the threat of a dangerous storm surge in the wake of Cyclone Yasi.
A second storm surge on Thursday's 9.30am high tide had also come in higher than expected and Cyclone Yasi's destructive path across the state was continuing.
Ms Bligh said evacuation centres in Cairns and Townsville would remain in lockdown until the threat of the storm surge had passed.
About 9.30am, waves were crashing over the esplanade in Cairns and water was rising in Townsville, Rose Bay and the surrounds.
"It's not over yet," Ms Bligh told reporters. "We can still expect, I think, the possibility of sad and bad news.
"We are out there monitoring and we are out there literally cutting our way into communities to find people who might be unsafe."
Heavy flooding was also expected at Townsville, Ingham, Giru and throughout the upper Burdekin, Ms Bligh said.
"If the rainfall keeps at its current rate that could be revised up to heavy and serious flooding in Ingham," she said.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard urged far north Queenslanders to not let their guard down in the wake of Cyclone Yasi, saying the storm is still dangerous.
While the worst of Yasi appears to be over, some areas are expected to be hit by a second, dangerous storm surge today.
Ms Gillard said people needed to stay alert and listen to the advice of emergency services workers.
"Surging tides, powerlines that are down, flooding danger and there are some parts of Queensland that are bracing for the cyclone to come across land and to still hit," she said.
"People cannot let their guard down yet. The danger is not over."
Emergency payments of $1000 per adult and $400 per child would be available to people directly affected by the cyclone, Ms Gillard said.
"That can help circuit people in circumstances where they've been evacuated, where their homes have been damaged."
Ms Gillard insisted the nation would recover.
"Right throughout these affected areas, there is going to be a lot of damage and rebuilding to do.
"I want to say to the people of Queensland and the people of the nation generally, we will rebuild.
"We will rebuild from the floods, we will rebuild from the cyclone, we will rebuild from anything that nature throws at us."
The prime minister said it was too early to estimate the cost of the cyclone or say when she would visit north Queensland.
"But as soon as it is possible for me to travel and to be on the ground talking to Queenslanders who have been hit by this cyclone I will go and meet with them.
"I'm really very, very keen to do that."
Ms Gillard said search-and-rescue operations were still under way "so the focus continues to be on people's safety".
Premier Bligh was to travel to the worst-hit areas with reconstruction authority boss Major General Mick Slater and Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson on Thursday.
In Innisfail power poles had been snapped in half while in Tully one in three houses had either lost its roof or been completely demolished and more than 20 per cent of businesses in the main street were damaged.
Cyclone Yasi's destructive core, with wind gusts in excess of 125km/h, was weakening as it moved west-southwesterly as a category two cyclone, the Bureau of Meteorology said.
Inland communities, not used to cyclones, are being urged to prepare ahead of the storm passing over the city of Mt Isa as a tropical depression on Thursday night.
Elsewhere in the state there are massive power outages, communications problems and Townsville Council is urging citizens to conserve drinking water.
Some 177,000 homes are without power, some because of a transmission break and others because of downed powerlines.
Only 15 per cent of Townsville has electricity supply, the whole of Ingham is out and 34 per cent of Cairns has power and half of the homes in Mackay and Proserpine were out.
Teams from Centrelink and the Department of Communities are ready to go into affected towns with relief as soon as it's safe.
The Premier's Disaster Relief Appeal, activated for the state's flooding, will be broadened to cover the cyclone.
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