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| Cyclone Debbie: eye of storm makes landfall in north Queensland – live updates | Cyclone Debbie: eye of storm makes landfall in north Queensland – live updates |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 5.16am BST | |
| 05:16 | |
| Michael Shaw in Airlie Beach has sent us this video, showing the strength of the cyclone winds and damage it’s caused to his home. | |
| Wild winds and damage in Airlie Beach. Video: Michael Shaw #CycloneDebbie pic.twitter.com/B5hlq0ZaNO | |
| Updated | |
| at 5.21am BST | |
| 5.08am BST | |
| 05:08 | |
| This high-definition image is from the Himawari-8 satellite, taken a little while ago as the cyclone crossed the north Queensland coast. | |
| Updated | |
| at 5.22am BST | |
| 4.58am BST | |
| 04:58 | |
| Federal assistance has already been mobilised, in a number of different ways, ministers have told parliament this afternoon. From AAP: | |
| HMAS Choules is on the way to provide emergency assistance, and 1,000 ADF members have been deployed or are on standby to assist, according to the prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull. | |
| RAAF airlift aircraft, as well as army and navy hospital helicopters, are ready to assist and army engineering units are also prepared. | |
| Brigadier Chris Field, who played a key role in 2011 flood reconstruction in Queensland, has been appointed recovery coordinator. | |
| Medical, counselling and search and rescue teams have been deployed along with army engineers ready to clear roads and navy personnel to clear debris from harbours. | |
| The justice minister, Michael Keenan, told parliament the disaster response plan would allow the fast-tracking of requests for non-financial assistance from the Australian government, including ADF capability such as satellite imagery. | |
| Two federal emergency management assistance experts have been embedded with Queensland authorities. | |
| Once the cyclone passed, jointly funded natural disaster recovery and relief arrangements would be put in place, allowing the reimbursement of up to 75% of state spending. | |
| “This will assist people to meet their in needs, such as emergency hardship or stress payments, support for local councils and assistance for state governments to rebuild essential assets,” Keenan said. | |
| “We will assist Queensland with what will be significant costs after Tropical Cyclone Debbie.” | |
| The human services minister, Alan Tudge, said the national emergency call centre had been put on standby to help the Queensland government. | |
| He said if the cyclone was formally declared a “major disaster”, departmental staff and social workers would be deployed to community evacuation centres, as well as a mobile service bus. | |
| Support would also be given to pharmacists to maintain supplies of medicines. | |
| Updated | |
| at 5.24am BST | |
| 4.48am BST | 4.48am BST |
| 04:48 | 04:48 |
| Joshua Robertson | Joshua Robertson |
| Rosalind Willcocks, who owns a caravan park at Hideaway Bay, halfway between Bowen and Airlie Beach, says the cyclone has “absolutely ripped us to shreds”. | Rosalind Willcocks, who owns a caravan park at Hideaway Bay, halfway between Bowen and Airlie Beach, says the cyclone has “absolutely ripped us to shreds”. |
| The Hydeaway Bay Caravan and Camping Park is a couple of hundred metres from the oceanfront, close to the point where Cyclone Debbie hit the mainland. | The Hydeaway Bay Caravan and Camping Park is a couple of hundred metres from the oceanfront, close to the point where Cyclone Debbie hit the mainland. |
| Rosalind and husband Paul sent their guests packing a few days ago as a precaution, in retrospect a very sensible call. | Rosalind and husband Paul sent their guests packing a few days ago as a precaution, in retrospect a very sensible call. |
| Debbie’s roaring winds have stripped the site bare (apart from the brick buildings) and sent “all sorts of crap” flying and uprooted dozens of large trees. | Debbie’s roaring winds have stripped the site bare (apart from the brick buildings) and sent “all sorts of crap” flying and uprooted dozens of large trees. |
| “We’ve got the eye over us at the moment. It’s just destroyed our trees and our garden,’ she said. | “We’ve got the eye over us at the moment. It’s just destroyed our trees and our garden,’ she said. |
| “The buildings are brick but we did lose a barbecue, fridge, things like that went flying off. | “The buildings are brick but we did lose a barbecue, fridge, things like that went flying off. |
| “We have at least 30 trees down. There are just no leaves left, they’ve been shredded.” | “We have at least 30 trees down. There are just no leaves left, they’ve been shredded.” |
| The couple are relying on a new generator that has already failed once. | The couple are relying on a new generator that has already failed once. |
| “There’s only two of us here to clean it all up,” she said. | “There’s only two of us here to clean it all up,” she said. |
| “Hopefully we’ve passed the worst of it now and we’ve just got a few days of cleaning up and wait for the electricity to come back.” | “Hopefully we’ve passed the worst of it now and we’ve just got a few days of cleaning up and wait for the electricity to come back.” |
| 4.21am BST | 4.21am BST |
| 04:21 | 04:21 |
| Debbie declared a catastrophe: ICA | Debbie declared a catastrophe: ICA |
| The insurance industry peak body has officially declared Cyclone Debbie a catastrophe. | The insurance industry peak body has officially declared Cyclone Debbie a catastrophe. |
| The Insurance Council of Australia’s declaration triggers the establishment of a taskforce, the opening of an emergency hotline and the mobilisation of staff to work directly with local services and policy holders. | The Insurance Council of Australia’s declaration triggers the establishment of a taskforce, the opening of an emergency hotline and the mobilisation of staff to work directly with local services and policy holders. |
| “Insurers are already taking calls from policyholders, and many have teams standing by to enter the impact zone, assess claims and deliver assistance to their customers,” said the ICA’s chief executive, Rob Whelan. | “Insurers are already taking calls from policyholders, and many have teams standing by to enter the impact zone, assess claims and deliver assistance to their customers,” said the ICA’s chief executive, Rob Whelan. |
| “Insurers are prioritising claims from this disaster, and using a triage system to get assistance to those policyholders in most urgent need of assistance first.” | “Insurers are prioritising claims from this disaster, and using a triage system to get assistance to those policyholders in most urgent need of assistance first.” |
| Cyclone Yasi caused insured losses of $1.4bn. | Cyclone Yasi caused insured losses of $1.4bn. |
| Insurer's peak body declared #CycloneDebbie a catastrophe, first of thousands of expected claims already coming in pic.twitter.com/m1puvhnP2e | Insurer's peak body declared #CycloneDebbie a catastrophe, first of thousands of expected claims already coming in pic.twitter.com/m1puvhnP2e |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.50am BST | at 4.50am BST |
| 4.16am BST | 4.16am BST |
| 04:16 | 04:16 |
| Joshua Robertson | Joshua Robertson |
| With the eye of the cyclone passing just north of Airlie Beach, resident Tony Fontes reported a typical, deceptive moment of respite from roaring winds and driving rain. | With the eye of the cyclone passing just north of Airlie Beach, resident Tony Fontes reported a typical, deceptive moment of respite from roaring winds and driving rain. |
| He sent the following text about 45 minutes ago. | He sent the following text about 45 minutes ago. |
| “It has calmed right down and no rain. We are OK but have lost a few more trees. Mobile phone and internet are very dodgy.” | “It has calmed right down and no rain. We are OK but have lost a few more trees. Mobile phone and internet are very dodgy.” |
| 4.09am BST | 4.09am BST |
| 04:09 | 04:09 |
| There are reports of people attempting to go for a surf at Airlie Beach – or if we are looking at this image, standing by the shore contemplating going in. | There are reports of people attempting to go for a surf at Airlie Beach – or if we are looking at this image, standing by the shore contemplating going in. |
| Either way, not clever. | Either way, not clever. |
| What is this clown doing??? There's debris flying everywhere and this guys going for a surf!! @9NewsQueensland @9NewsAUS #CycloneDebbie pic.twitter.com/lR1YyoZqyk | What is this clown doing??? There's debris flying everywhere and this guys going for a surf!! @9NewsQueensland @9NewsAUS #CycloneDebbie pic.twitter.com/lR1YyoZqyk |
| If you do want to have some cyclone-related fun, this resident has expertly had a go during a live TV interview from the safety of his living room. | If you do want to have some cyclone-related fun, this resident has expertly had a go during a live TV interview from the safety of his living room. |
| The hardy residents of Far North Queensland and the perils of live television.....#CycloneDebbie pic.twitter.com/gKZCntGdvr | The hardy residents of Far North Queensland and the perils of live television.....#CycloneDebbie pic.twitter.com/gKZCntGdvr |
| The eye is now over the Airlie Beach area and the official advice is to not go outside, even though it seems calm. Strong winds could resume at any time. | The eye is now over the Airlie Beach area and the official advice is to not go outside, even though it seems calm. Strong winds could resume at any time. |
| Mackay is really copping it now. #TCDebbie pic.twitter.com/ObfE0XaLP0 | Mackay is really copping it now. #TCDebbie pic.twitter.com/ObfE0XaLP0 |
| #cyclonedebbie arrives in #Mackay @ABCemergency pic.twitter.com/FhPHvA6I6l | #cyclonedebbie arrives in #Mackay @ABCemergency pic.twitter.com/FhPHvA6I6l |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.51am BST | at 4.51am BST |
| 3.58am BST | 3.58am BST |
| 03:58 | 03:58 |
| Here are a few snaps and clips from around the cyclone-affected region. | Here are a few snaps and clips from around the cyclone-affected region. |
| “It’s been a long night and day,” Rebecca Nicol tells Guardian Australia. | “It’s been a long night and day,” Rebecca Nicol tells Guardian Australia. |
| “No power of course. Wind has been swirling and gusting. Eye has just passed. We live right on the edge of Abell Point marina.” | “No power of course. Wind has been swirling and gusting. Eye has just passed. We live right on the edge of Abell Point marina.” |
| The video Nicol has sent was taken at about 10.30 this morning when it was gusting about 120 knots. | The video Nicol has sent was taken at about 10.30 this morning when it was gusting about 120 knots. |
| Rebecca Nicol has sent in this clip from Airlie Beach. #CycloneDebbie pic.twitter.com/vVChv6vDBq | Rebecca Nicol has sent in this clip from Airlie Beach. #CycloneDebbie pic.twitter.com/vVChv6vDBq |
| Just heard part of the awning from the building next door fly down the street in Bowen. #CycloneDebbie | Just heard part of the awning from the building next door fly down the street in Bowen. #CycloneDebbie |
| An ABC journalist, Jonathan Hair, took this photo of the Airlie port marina. Airlie Beach is now under the eye of the storm. | An ABC journalist, Jonathan Hair, took this photo of the Airlie port marina. Airlie Beach is now under the eye of the storm. |
| Damage to boats at Airlie Beach. Shot from hotel room. Eye just passed over. Round two coming. @abcnews #TCDebbie pic.twitter.com/zHSqedIASm | Damage to boats at Airlie Beach. Shot from hotel room. Eye just passed over. Round two coming. @abcnews #TCDebbie pic.twitter.com/zHSqedIASm |
| It's eerily quiet here now as we enter the eye of the storm. Fences and trees down. #CycloneDebbie #TCDebbie #Whitsundays #airliebeach | It's eerily quiet here now as we enter the eye of the storm. Fences and trees down. #CycloneDebbie #TCDebbie #Whitsundays #airliebeach |
| Kev and Donna Poschelk are riding out the storm in their home in Bowen with Josh, who is surely having a memorable 13th birthday. | Kev and Donna Poschelk are riding out the storm in their home in Bowen with Josh, who is surely having a memorable 13th birthday. |
| “We’re looking towards the east where the eye of the cyclone is supposed to be. Wind is coming from the west behind us (all day). No electricity and no TV so we are sitting on the lounge watching the action through open (cyclone-rated) lattice.” | “We’re looking towards the east where the eye of the cyclone is supposed to be. Wind is coming from the west behind us (all day). No electricity and no TV so we are sitting on the lounge watching the action through open (cyclone-rated) lattice.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.54am BST | at 4.54am BST |
| 3.46am BST | 3.46am BST |
| 03:46 | 03:46 |
| 'This is going to be a terrible disaster' | 'This is going to be a terrible disaster' |
| From AAP: | From AAP: |
| Residents in the path of Cyclone Debbie could be waiting until Wednesday for emergency help, as the destructive slow-moving storm keeps the region in lockdown for hours. | Residents in the path of Cyclone Debbie could be waiting until Wednesday for emergency help, as the destructive slow-moving storm keeps the region in lockdown for hours. |
| The northern region SES manager, Dale Camp, said strong winds were expected to continue into the evening. | The northern region SES manager, Dale Camp, said strong winds were expected to continue into the evening. |
| The high-level category-four system is not expected to weaken to a tropical low until midday on Wednesday. | The high-level category-four system is not expected to weaken to a tropical low until midday on Wednesday. |
| “It’s a very slow-moving cyclone, so we’re talking anywhere between six and 14 hours until it’s completely over in each location,” he said. “So that puts it well into this evening, and that’s the problem, everyone is going to have to stay in their house all day, and then stay there all night as well. | “It’s a very slow-moving cyclone, so we’re talking anywhere between six and 14 hours until it’s completely over in each location,” he said. “So that puts it well into this evening, and that’s the problem, everyone is going to have to stay in their house all day, and then stay there all night as well. |
| Camp said poor light in the evening would hamper any clean-up efforts. | Camp said poor light in the evening would hamper any clean-up efforts. |
| “We have to wait for that wind to die down before we move around, and if it’s at night time it makes it very difficult to see things like floodwaters, so they’ll probably be waiting until first light tomorrow,” he said. | “We have to wait for that wind to die down before we move around, and if it’s at night time it makes it very difficult to see things like floodwaters, so they’ll probably be waiting until first light tomorrow,” he said. |
| Debbie had moved as slow as 4km/h in heading to the north Queensland coast on Tuesday morning but quickened to 12km/h as the eyewall made landfall near Airlie Beach just after midday. | Debbie had moved as slow as 4km/h in heading to the north Queensland coast on Tuesday morning but quickened to 12km/h as the eyewall made landfall near Airlie Beach just after midday. |
| A Whitsundays councillor, John Collins, said Cyclone Debbie was one of the slowest he had experienced. | A Whitsundays councillor, John Collins, said Cyclone Debbie was one of the slowest he had experienced. |
| “I’ve been through a few cyclones that are quick and nasty but this one is going to go all day,” he said. | “I’ve been through a few cyclones that are quick and nasty but this one is going to go all day,” he said. |
| “It’s a long wait, sitting here waiting while it tears everything up. | “It’s a long wait, sitting here waiting while it tears everything up. |
| “This is going to be a terrible disaster when it is all over and done with.” | “This is going to be a terrible disaster when it is all over and done with.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.53am BST | at 4.53am BST |
| 3.29am BST | 3.29am BST |
| 03:29 | 03:29 |
| Here is the latest tracking map from the Bureau of Meteorology. Debbie has just made landfall between Airlie Beach and Bowen as a category-four cyclone. | Here is the latest tracking map from the Bureau of Meteorology. Debbie has just made landfall between Airlie Beach and Bowen as a category-four cyclone. |
| #CycloneDebbie is crossing the coast between #Bowen and #AirlieBeach. Stay updated at https://t.co/FBmpsInT9o pic.twitter.com/w0XcgFLPXL | #CycloneDebbie is crossing the coast between #Bowen and #AirlieBeach. Stay updated at https://t.co/FBmpsInT9o pic.twitter.com/w0XcgFLPXL |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.55am BST | at 4.55am BST |
| 3.24am BST | 3.24am BST |
| 03:24 | 03:24 |
| If you have taken video or photos of Cyclone Debbie, please send them through to helen.davidson@theguardian.com. We would love to run them on the site. | If you have taken video or photos of Cyclone Debbie, please send them through to helen.davidson@theguardian.com. We would love to run them on the site. |
| This request is only if you are able to do so safely. Please don’t take any risks. | This request is only if you are able to do so safely. Please don’t take any risks. |
| 3.19am BST | 3.19am BST |
| 03:19 | 03:19 |
| Cyclone eye reaches mainland | Cyclone eye reaches mainland |
| The eye of Cyclone Debbie has now reached mainland Queensland, making landfall between Bowen and Airlie Beach. | |
| It’s estimated to be 50km east south-east of Bowen and 30km north-east of Proserpine. It has picked up speed slightly but remains very slow, moving south-west at 12km/h. | It’s estimated to be 50km east south-east of Bowen and 30km north-east of Proserpine. It has picked up speed slightly but remains very slow, moving south-west at 12km/h. |
| URGENT: #CycloneDebbie starting to make landfall btwn Bowen & Airlie Beach. If winds stop, you are only in Eye. DO NOT GO OUTSIDE. #alert | URGENT: #CycloneDebbie starting to make landfall btwn Bowen & Airlie Beach. If winds stop, you are only in Eye. DO NOT GO OUTSIDE. #alert |
| The local ABC radio transmitter at Bowen has lost power and residents are urged to tune into the 630 AM frequency for emergency coverage. | |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.55am BST | |