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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)
6.33am BST
06:33
“We’ve got three broken windows now, so the rooms are totalled,” Proserpine resident, Sue, has told the ABC about the moment her neighbour’s roof smashed into her house. “We’ve got water coming down the hallway...the doors are shaking.”
LISTEN: Sue from Proserpine describes the moment the full force of #CycloneDebbie was felt pic.twitter.com/jeXmCrXXwC
The ABC has also put together some dramatic before-and-after photos.
Before and after: Beautiful one day, cyclonic the next https://t.co/oLP56rIki6 #CycloneDebbie #HamiltonIsland #TCDebbie pic.twitter.com/lYCOfNfUi4
6.23am BST
06:23
Summary
Cyclone Debbie crossed the Queensland coast at 1pm AEST, making landfall between Airlie Beach and Bowen.
It is moving south-west at about 12km/h and remains a dangerous category-four storm.
The Queensland police commissioner has warned people to prepare for news of significant damage, injuries and perhaps even deaths.
Police commissioner Ian Stewart said a number of communities had been cut off from communication and it wasn’t known how badly they have been hit.
One man is in hospital after being seriously injured by a collapsing wall in Proserpine.
More then 43,000 homes are without power.
Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has said there are “preliminary reports” of significant structural damage in Proserpine, and has urged people to remain indoors while the slow-moving storm continues to batter the region.
Strong winds are expected to continue around Bowen for the next four to six hours, and around Proserpine for the next eight to 10.
Cyclone Debbie, which is expected to diminish into a tropical low on Wednesday, is expected to track south-west but is still moving extremely slowly and will bring heavy rains to inland Queensland, as well as probable floods.
The Insurance Council of Australia has declared a catastrophe in the region, triggering emergency measures for dealing with the large number of expected insurance claims.
An Australia defence force joint taskforce has been established to assist during and after the cyclone.
1,000 personnel and HMAS Choules landing ship are ready to provide assistance and provide humanitarian disaster relief.
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The media conference is now over but you can rewatch it here.
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Palaszczuk has met with local mayors and said they have been kept up to date. She said lessons had been learned from previous cyclones.Palaszczuk has met with local mayors and said they have been kept up to date. She said lessons had been learned from previous cyclones.
“The mood is one of uncertainty,” she said.“The mood is one of uncertainty,” she said.
“We’re seeing families at the moment are getting hammered by this system. This would be an incredibly scary moment for them, and they would have been going through it for hours and hours and hours.”“We’re seeing families at the moment are getting hammered by this system. This would be an incredibly scary moment for them, and they would have been going through it for hours and hours and hours.”
Palaszczuk said there were evacuees in shelters across the region, and some people had shown up to hospitals seeking shelter. They were all being looked after, she said.Palaszczuk said there were evacuees in shelters across the region, and some people had shown up to hospitals seeking shelter. They were all being looked after, she said.
The cyclone is expected to track over the Emerald area, the bureau spokesman said, and flooding is likely.The cyclone is expected to track over the Emerald area, the bureau spokesman said, and flooding is likely.
5.59am BST5.59am BST
05:5905:59
The threat of storm surge in Mackay has passed for now, a spokesman for the bureau of meteorology has said. The threat of storm surge in Mackay has passed for now, a spokesman for the Bureau of Meteorology has said: “By a whisker we’ve missed out.”
“By a whisker we’ve missed out.” The surge is increasing but the tide is dropping and it’s believed the threat has passed. Some communities have faced some water inundation.
The surge is increasing but the tide is dropping, and it’s believed the threat has passed, he said. Some communities have faced some water inundation. He said the cyclone had taken a “crooked path” but it was on its way and had sped up slightly to 12km/h.
He said the cyclone took a “crooked path” but it was on its way and had sped up slightly to 12km/h but was still extremely slow. Previous cyclones were faster, he said. Larry was between 30 and 40km/h, and Yasi was somewhere in between.
Previous cyclones were faster, he said. Larry was about 30-40km/h, and Yasi was somewhere in between. Updated
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One man injured in ProserpineOne man injured in Proserpine
The police commissioner has warned there may be deaths from this cyclone.The police commissioner has warned there may be deaths from this cyclone.
One man has been “hurt badly” by a collapsing wall in Proserpine and has been taken to hospital, Stewart has confirmed.One man has been “hurt badly” by a collapsing wall in Proserpine and has been taken to hospital, Stewart has confirmed.
“What we need to brace for, this is a very destructive storm and storm system … and we are going to get lots of reports of damage and, sadly, I think we will also receive reports of injuries, if not death.”“What we need to brace for, this is a very destructive storm and storm system … and we are going to get lots of reports of damage and, sadly, I think we will also receive reports of injuries, if not death.”
Stewart said the reason behind his warning was the loss of power and phone connectivity cutting off communities.Stewart said the reason behind his warning was the loss of power and phone connectivity cutting off communities.
“We just don’t know about it.”“We just don’t know about it.”
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The Queensland police commissioner, Ian Stewart, has urged people to stay off the roads if they don’t need to go out in the aftermath of the cyclone, to leave them free for emergency services.The Queensland police commissioner, Ian Stewart, has urged people to stay off the roads if they don’t need to go out in the aftermath of the cyclone, to leave them free for emergency services.
“Stay at home, start to clean up your own area, but leave the roads and other tasks to emergency services personnel.”“Stay at home, start to clean up your own area, but leave the roads and other tasks to emergency services personnel.”
He has also warned against looting and asked people to photograph and report anyone doing so to police.He has also warned against looting and asked people to photograph and report anyone doing so to police.
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5.52am BST5.52am BST
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45,000 homes without power45,000 homes without power
More than 45,000 homes are without power and major trees are down, the Queensland premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, has just said.More than 45,000 homes are without power and major trees are down, the Queensland premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, has just said.
There have also been preliminary reports of serious damage to structures in Proserpine.There have also been preliminary reports of serious damage to structures in Proserpine.
Palaszczuk said winds around the eye of the storm were increasing and emergency services in the area were unable to go out to assist people at the moment.Palaszczuk said winds around the eye of the storm were increasing and emergency services in the area were unable to go out to assist people at the moment.
“This is a dangerous cyclone,” she said. “People must stay indoors. Please do not go outside, and please contact the emergency services for assistance. When they can help you over the phone, they will.”“This is a dangerous cyclone,” she said. “People must stay indoors. Please do not go outside, and please contact the emergency services for assistance. When they can help you over the phone, they will.”
She said strong winds would continue for eight to 10 hours in Proserpine, and four to six hours in Bowen, and the impact of Cyclone Debbie would continue for the next three days.She said strong winds would continue for eight to 10 hours in Proserpine, and four to six hours in Bowen, and the impact of Cyclone Debbie would continue for the next three days.
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The view from #Sarina Beach. #TCDebbie #CycloneDebbie pic.twitter.com/0R5V3OUGlYThe view from #Sarina Beach. #TCDebbie #CycloneDebbie pic.twitter.com/0R5V3OUGlY
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Once the cyclone drops down to a tropical low, around Wednesday, it’s expected to move south-east and bring rain to inland regions, the Bureau of Once the cyclone drops down to a tropical low, around Wednesday, it’s expected to move south-east and bring rain to inland regions, the Bureau of
Rainfall has reached 80mm an hour in some inland areas and it’s expected to reach up to 200m an hour or even higher.Rainfall has reached 80mm an hour in some inland areas and it’s expected to reach up to 200m an hour or even higher.
Below is the current flood warning summary:Below is the current flood warning summary:
Major flood warning for the Pioneer riverMajor flood warning for the Pioneer river
Moderate flood warning for the Don river and flood warning for the Proserpine riverModerate flood warning for the Don river and flood warning for the Proserpine river
Minor flood warning for the lower Isaac riverMinor flood warning for the lower Isaac river
Flood watch for coastal catchments between Ayr and the NSW border, extending inland to parts of the central highlands and coalfields, central west, Maranoa and Warrego, and Darling Downs and Granite Belt forecast districts.Flood watch for coastal catchments between Ayr and the NSW border, extending inland to parts of the central highlands and coalfields, central west, Maranoa and Warrego, and Darling Downs and Granite Belt forecast districts.
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The disaster monitoring service Force 13 has shared what it says is footage of Cyclone Debbie, captured by the International Space Station as it moved over the Pacific Ocean. It is truly breathtaking.The disaster monitoring service Force 13 has shared what it says is footage of Cyclone Debbie, captured by the International Space Station as it moved over the Pacific Ocean. It is truly breathtaking.
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Michael Shaw in Airlie Beach has sent us this video, showing the strength of the cyclone winds and damage they have caused to his home.Michael Shaw in Airlie Beach has sent us this video, showing the strength of the cyclone winds and damage they have caused to his home.
Wild winds and damage in Airlie Beach. Video: Michael Shaw #CycloneDebbie pic.twitter.com/B5hlq0ZaNOWild winds and damage in Airlie Beach. Video: Michael Shaw #CycloneDebbie pic.twitter.com/B5hlq0ZaNO
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5.08am BST5.08am BST
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This high-definition image is from the Himawari-8 satellite, taken a little while ago as the cyclone crossed the north Queensland coast.This high-definition image is from the Himawari-8 satellite, taken a little while ago as the cyclone crossed the north Queensland coast.
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at 5.22am BSTat 5.22am BST