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| Cyclone Debbie downgraded to category three storm – live updates | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 7.08am BST | |
| 07:08 | |
| The Proserpine-based Whitsundays councillor John Collins said the initial winds of the cyclone sounded “like a jumbo jet is parked on my roof”. | |
| “I’ve been through a few cyclones that are quick and nasty but this one is going to go all day,” he told AAP. “It’s a long wait, sitting here waiting while it tears everything up.” | |
| At Bowen, the Whitsundays councillor Mike Brunker said “terrifying” winds were battering his home that sits on a hill overlooking Rose Bay. | |
| “The bursts of 100km/h winds are the most frightening ones,” he told AAP as he bunkered down in his bedroom. “It’s hitting the southern end of my house and is just shaking the shit out of it. | |
| “My back fence is laying in the neighbour’s yard. It got flogged both ways.” | |
| The storm earlier pounded the Whitsunday Islands, with gusts of 263km/h recorded at Hamilton Island. | |
| Going, going, gone! Wouldn't want to be hit by that at 115km/ph #Bowen #CycloneDebbie @AAPNewswire pic.twitter.com/hyjq16VomE | |
| Updated | |
| at 7.10am BST | |
| 6.49am BST | |
| 06:49 | |
| Debbie downgraded to category three | |
| Cyclone Debbie has been downgraded to a category-three storm. | |
| It’s now estimated to be 45km south-east of Bowen and 10km north-west of Proserpine, moving south-west at 13km/h. | |
| The Bureau of Meteorology has warned that gusts may still reach 220km/h for the next hour or two. | |
| “The system is forecast to move slowly south-west over the next 12 to 18 hours before curving to a more southerly track over inland Queensland,” it said. | |
| “The system is expected to move further inland this afternoon and evening, and the peak winds near the centre will weaken rapidly. However, heavy rain is expected to continue across the region. | |
| “Destructive winds with gusts over 125km/h are occurring about the coast and islands between about Cape Upstart and Cape Hillsborough (north of Mackay), including Bowen and Proserpine, and will extend further west along the coast to areas to Ayr during this afternoon. These destructive winds may extend to adjacent inland areas, including Collinsville and Mount Coolon late today into this evening. | |
| “Destructive winds are no longer expected in Townsville, Charters Towers, Mackay or Sarina.” | |
| Updated | |
| at 7.12am BST | |
| 6.33am BST | 6.33am BST |
| 06:33 | 06:33 |
| “We’ve got three broken windows now, so the rooms are totalled,” a Proserpine resident, Sue, has told 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 | 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. | 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 | Before and after: Beautiful one day, cyclonic the next https://t.co/oLP56rIki6 #CycloneDebbie #HamiltonIsland #TCDebbie pic.twitter.com/lYCOfNfUi4 |
| Updated | |
| at 7.11am BST | |
| 6.23am BST | 6.23am BST |
| 06:23 | 06:23 |
| Summary | Summary |
| Cyclone Debbie crossed the Queensland coast at 1pm AEST, making landfall between Airlie Beach and Bowen. | 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. | |
| The Queensland police commissioner has warned people to prepare for news of significant damage, injuries and perhaps even deaths. | 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. | 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. | One man is in hospital after being seriously injured by a collapsing wall in Proserpine. |
| More then 43,000 homes are without power. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 1,000 personnel and HMAS Choules landing ship are ready to provide assistance and provide humanitarian disaster relief. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 6.55am BST | |
| 6.05am BST | 6.05am BST |
| 06:05 | 06:05 |
| The media conference is now over but you can rewatch it here. | The media conference is now over but you can rewatch it here. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 6.15am BST | at 6.15am BST |
| 6.04am BST | 6.04am BST |
| 06:04 | 06:04 |
| 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 BST | 5.59am BST |
| 05:59 | 05:59 |
| 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.” | 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.” |
| 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. 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 had taken a “crooked path” but it was on its way and had sped up slightly to 12km/h. |
| 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 between 30 and 40km/h, and Yasi was somewhere in between. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 6.06am BST | at 6.06am BST |
| 5.55am BST | 5.55am BST |
| 05:55 | 05:55 |
| One man injured in Proserpine | One 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.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 6.05am BST | at 6.05am BST |
| 5.53am BST | 5.53am BST |
| 05:53 | 05:53 |
| 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. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 6.04am BST | at 6.04am BST |
| 5.52am BST | 5.52am BST |
| 05:52 | 05:52 |
| 45,000 homes without power | 45,000 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. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.56am BST | at 5.56am BST |
| 5.49am BST | 5.49am BST |
| 05:49 | 05:49 |
| The view from #Sarina Beach. #TCDebbie #CycloneDebbie pic.twitter.com/0R5V3OUGlY | The view from #Sarina Beach. #TCDebbie #CycloneDebbie pic.twitter.com/0R5V3OUGlY |
| 5.41am BST | 5.41am BST |
| 05:41 | 05:41 |
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 river | Major flood warning for the Pioneer river |
| Moderate flood warning for the Don river and flood warning for the Proserpine river | Moderate flood warning for the Don river and flood warning for the Proserpine river |
| Minor flood warning for the lower Isaac river | Minor 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. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.52am BST | at 5.52am BST |
| 5.31am BST | 5.31am BST |
| 05:31 | 05:31 |
| 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. |
| 5.16am BST | 5.16am BST |
| 05:16 | 05:16 |
| 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/B5hlq0ZaNO | Wild winds and damage in Airlie Beach. Video: Michael Shaw #CycloneDebbie pic.twitter.com/B5hlq0ZaNO |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.51am BST | at 5.51am BST |
| 5.08am BST | 5.08am BST |
| 05:08 | 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. | This high-definition image is from the Himawari-8 satellite, taken a little while ago as the cyclone crossed the north Queensland coast. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.22am BST | at 5.22am BST |