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| Cyclone Debbie: category four storm due to hit Queensland coast – live updates | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 10.57pm BST | |
| 22:57 | |
| Police commissioner warns worst yet to come | |
| Queensland’s police commissioner, Ian Stewart, is warning the worst of Cyclone Debbie is yet to come. Stewart said the cyclone is moving very slowly, and its destructive core is still to pass over the coast. He also warned residents to prepare for a long day inside. | |
| “The main core area of the cyclone - so that’s the area with the very, very high and destructive winds - really has not passed generally over the coast,” Stewart told the ABC. | |
| “It’s tucked right on the edge of the coast and certainly places like Proserpine, Airlie Beach, the islands, Hayman, Hamilton, all of those,” he said. | |
| “They would feel the full force of those winds, but the main core has not yet passed directly onto the coast and that’s when we’re going to see those sustained, destructive winds for many, many hours.” | |
| Updated | |
| at 10.57pm BST | |
| 10.45pm BST | |
| 22:45 | |
| Bureau of Meteorology forecaster, Adam Morgan, has urged residents in the cyclone’s path to stay inside. He said in Hamilton Island, peak wind gusts of 189km/h have been recorded. Incredibly strong winds of more than 100km/h have been recorded continuously since 9pm Monday. | |
| #CycloneDebbie: Powerful winds at Hamilton Island. Cyclone Debbie forecast to make landfall around 1pm. #9News https://t.co/Ieil70NjWw pic.twitter.com/K2A2qXQIpS | |
| Mackay has seen category one strength winds, Morgan said, and areas west of the town have experienced 400mm of rainfall. Morgan repeated warnings that residents should not go outside, even when they think the worst has passed. | |
| “The strongest winds are on the outside of the eye. That eye, as I heard mentioned, may take a while to cross,” he said. | |
| “This is a dangerous period of time. People should not go outside because winds will quickly pick up from exactly the same strength that fastest winds were but from the opposition direction. | |
| “Don’t go outside during the eye and stay in shelter, even once the eye of the cyclone passes.” | |
| 10.33pm BST | |
| 22:33 | |
| The force of the winds in Mackay is already causing damage. The latest readings from Mackay Airport record winds of 65km/h, and gusts of up to 89km/h. That’s still far below what’s forecast for Cyclone Debbie. | |
| Tree down just outside the ABC Mackay building! Lucky we all moved our cars! @ABCTropical @ABCNewsBrisbane #CycloneDebbie pic.twitter.com/38jn11WMhy | |
| 10.27pm BST | 10.27pm BST |
| 22:27 | 22:27 |
| Cyclone Debbie hits the Whitsundays | Cyclone Debbie hits the Whitsundays |
| The impact of Cyclone Debbie is currently being felt most on the Whitsundays, the popular holiday islands off the north Queensland coast. Queensland deputy police commissioner, Steve Gollschewski, said he had received reports of roof damage at police facilities in the Whitsundays region. | The impact of Cyclone Debbie is currently being felt most on the Whitsundays, the popular holiday islands off the north Queensland coast. Queensland deputy police commissioner, Steve Gollschewski, said he had received reports of roof damage at police facilities in the Whitsundays region. |
| “We’re getting some reports already of roofs starting to lift, including at some of our own facilities in the Whitsundays,” he told the ABC. | “We’re getting some reports already of roofs starting to lift, including at some of our own facilities in the Whitsundays,” he told the ABC. |
| On Hamilton Island, residents struggled to sleep as the cyclone approached. Helena Mo who is holidaying on the island at the Reef View Hotel. She said the wind started to get “pretty bad” around 1am but the worst came after 4am. | On Hamilton Island, residents struggled to sleep as the cyclone approached. Helena Mo who is holidaying on the island at the Reef View Hotel. She said the wind started to get “pretty bad” around 1am but the worst came after 4am. |
| “I have to admit it’s been difficult to get some sleep, even with the knowledge that we are staying in a very secure hotel,” she told AAP. | “I have to admit it’s been difficult to get some sleep, even with the knowledge that we are staying in a very secure hotel,” she told AAP. |
| “I have never heard gusts of wind howl this loud and this intense before.” | “I have never heard gusts of wind howl this loud and this intense before.” |
| “You can’t help but worry about what’s going to happen next.” | “You can’t help but worry about what’s going to happen next.” |
| The conditions on Hayman Island, the most northerly of the Whitsundays, was also deteriorating. | The conditions on Hayman Island, the most northerly of the Whitsundays, was also deteriorating. |
| Extremely windy here on #haymanisland - our balcony on the first floor is covered in sand. No major damage apparent yet. #CycloneDebbie pic.twitter.com/1LHwEywfSw | Extremely windy here on #haymanisland - our balcony on the first floor is covered in sand. No major damage apparent yet. #CycloneDebbie pic.twitter.com/1LHwEywfSw |
| 10.19pm BST | 10.19pm BST |
| 22:19 | 22:19 |
| The latest rainfall figures on the Bureau of Meteorology site are pretty astonishing. On Hamilton Island, 89.2mm has fallen since 9am on Monday. Bowen has seen 76.8mm of rain during the same time, and Mackay 110.6mm. | The latest rainfall figures on the Bureau of Meteorology site are pretty astonishing. On Hamilton Island, 89.2mm has fallen since 9am on Monday. Bowen has seen 76.8mm of rain during the same time, and Mackay 110.6mm. |
| Rain in Bowen, sound is deafening. #CycloneDebbie expected to hit at noon or 1pm #tcdebbie pic.twitter.com/5xSM6kEHNm | Rain in Bowen, sound is deafening. #CycloneDebbie expected to hit at noon or 1pm #tcdebbie pic.twitter.com/5xSM6kEHNm |
| 10.10pm BST | 10.10pm BST |
| 22:10 | 22:10 |
| Mackay’s mayor, Greg Williamson, has attempted to clarify confusion over whether cyclone evacuation centres in the town are open. Williamson said evacuation centres will open only after the cyclone has passed. He said authorities do not want residents on the road while the cyclone is still active. | Mackay’s mayor, Greg Williamson, has attempted to clarify confusion over whether cyclone evacuation centres in the town are open. Williamson said evacuation centres will open only after the cyclone has passed. He said authorities do not want residents on the road while the cyclone is still active. |
| Williamson used a colourful turn of phrase to describe the night in Mackay. | Williamson used a colourful turn of phrase to describe the night in Mackay. |
| “It’s been a woolly night in north Queensland and it’s not over yet, Debbie’s fabulous dance over the Coral Sea in the last couple of days is still going and she hasn’t crossed the coast yet,” he told the ABC. | “It’s been a woolly night in north Queensland and it’s not over yet, Debbie’s fabulous dance over the Coral Sea in the last couple of days is still going and she hasn’t crossed the coast yet,” he told the ABC. |
| “Unfortunately it’s over the Whitsunday Islands now and still heading for the Bowen region, so our hearts, and thoughts and prayers are going out to people in that region.” | “Unfortunately it’s over the Whitsunday Islands now and still heading for the Bowen region, so our hearts, and thoughts and prayers are going out to people in that region.” |
| Amateur footage from Mackay suggests the wind is starting to pick up. | Amateur footage from Mackay suggests the wind is starting to pick up. |
| @BreakfastNews Red Zone in South Mackay. Wind is starting to roar. 🍃 pic.twitter.com/rrmacX61Ef | @BreakfastNews Red Zone in South Mackay. Wind is starting to roar. 🍃 pic.twitter.com/rrmacX61Ef |
| 10.00pm BST | 10.00pm BST |
| 22:00 | 22:00 |
| Vision of turbulent winds and rain in tourist hotspot Airlie Beach has begun to emerge. | Vision of turbulent winds and rain in tourist hotspot Airlie Beach has begun to emerge. |
| WATCH: This is Main Street on Airlie beach. They are currently being battered by huge winds due to Cyclone #Debbie pic.twitter.com/ms4IujVzHX | WATCH: This is Main Street on Airlie beach. They are currently being battered by huge winds due to Cyclone #Debbie pic.twitter.com/ms4IujVzHX |
| 9.57pm BST | 9.57pm BST |
| 21:57 | 21:57 |
| While many in Far North Queensland are doing everything they can to get out of Debbie’s path, others are rushing towards it. | While many in Far North Queensland are doing everything they can to get out of Debbie’s path, others are rushing towards it. |
| Josh Morgerman is an American cyclone chaser who came to Queensland to experience the category four storm. Morgerman is currently in Bowen, where the destructive core of the storm is due to hit. He has described conditions at 6.30am local time as “turbulent but nothing too crazy yet”. | Josh Morgerman is an American cyclone chaser who came to Queensland to experience the category four storm. Morgerman is currently in Bowen, where the destructive core of the storm is due to hit. He has described conditions at 6.30am local time as “turbulent but nothing too crazy yet”. |
| 6:30 am. Daybreak in #Bowen. #Cyclone #DEBBIE lurking just offshore. 988.3 mb. pic.twitter.com/Wz5HdXVF7k | 6:30 am. Daybreak in #Bowen. #Cyclone #DEBBIE lurking just offshore. 988.3 mb. pic.twitter.com/Wz5HdXVF7k |
| Keep in mind, Morgerman has experienced some pretty harrowing cyclones. He was in the Philippines for typhoon Haiyan, one of the most intense cyclones on record. Haiyan killed more than 6,000 people in the Philippines alone. | Keep in mind, Morgerman has experienced some pretty harrowing cyclones. He was in the Philippines for typhoon Haiyan, one of the most intense cyclones on record. Haiyan killed more than 6,000 people in the Philippines alone. |
| 9.46pm BST | 9.46pm BST |
| 21:46 | 21:46 |
| The latest radar image from the Bureau of Meteorology’s Bowen radar shows the extent of rainfall expected between Mackay in the south and Townsville further north. In some areas, 13 inches (33cm) of rain is expected to fall on Tuesday. Deputy prime minister, Barnaby Joyce, gave us a sense of the scale of the expected rainfall. | |
| “That is absolutely astronomical,” Joyce told ABC radio. | “That is absolutely astronomical,” Joyce told ABC radio. |
| “So for your listeners, 13 inches of rain is what people out west get in a year.” | “So for your listeners, 13 inches of rain is what people out west get in a year.” |
| #CycloneDebbie as seen on the #Bowen radar. The loop clearly shows convective bands pushing onto the coast. https://t.co/wfjjxhDYJQ pic.twitter.com/6B4ilWwfoG | #CycloneDebbie as seen on the #Bowen radar. The loop clearly shows convective bands pushing onto the coast. https://t.co/wfjjxhDYJQ pic.twitter.com/6B4ilWwfoG |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 10.40pm BST | |
| 9.39pm BST | 9.39pm BST |
| 21:39 | 21:39 |
| Far North Queensland sees more than its fair share of tropical cyclones. So how are homes in the region built to withstand destructive winds? James Cook University’s cyclone testing station research director, John Ginger, said homes built since the mid-1980s, under improved building standards, would be able to withstand Debbie. | Far North Queensland sees more than its fair share of tropical cyclones. So how are homes in the region built to withstand destructive winds? James Cook University’s cyclone testing station research director, John Ginger, said homes built since the mid-1980s, under improved building standards, would be able to withstand Debbie. |
| “Houses built in the cyclonic regions of Queensland to improved building standards since the mid-1980s can be expected to withstand wind-loads forecast in TC Debbie,” Ginger said. | “Houses built in the cyclonic regions of Queensland to improved building standards since the mid-1980s can be expected to withstand wind-loads forecast in TC Debbie,” Ginger said. |
| “Some older houses will be vulnerable to damage,” he said. | “Some older houses will be vulnerable to damage,” he said. |
| “Houses in low-lying coastal regions especially to the south of the crossing, and are subjected to storm surge will be vulnerable to significant damage.” | “Houses in low-lying coastal regions especially to the south of the crossing, and are subjected to storm surge will be vulnerable to significant damage.” |
| 9.28pm BST | 9.28pm BST |
| 21:28 | 21:28 |
| The ABC has reported that engine problems with two of the Navy’s largest ships - the amphibious assault ships HMAS Canberra and HMAS Adelaide - have rendered them unable to assist in the Cyclone Debbie response. Labor has described that as “very, very troubling”. Deputy prime minister, Barnaby Joyce, has just told ABC radio that another vessel, HMAS Choules, has been deployed instead and will arrive in the region in time. | The ABC has reported that engine problems with two of the Navy’s largest ships - the amphibious assault ships HMAS Canberra and HMAS Adelaide - have rendered them unable to assist in the Cyclone Debbie response. Labor has described that as “very, very troubling”. Deputy prime minister, Barnaby Joyce, has just told ABC radio that another vessel, HMAS Choules, has been deployed instead and will arrive in the region in time. |
| “That’s how you manage things, if one isn’t available you send the other one,” Joyce said. | “That’s how you manage things, if one isn’t available you send the other one,” Joyce said. |
| 9.22pm BST | 9.22pm BST |
| 21:22 | 21:22 |
| Queensland premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, has just appeared on ABC to urge residents to stay safe, and prepare for a long day. She warned residents against being lulled into a false sense of security when the eye of the storm passes over. | Queensland premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, has just appeared on ABC to urge residents to stay safe, and prepare for a long day. She warned residents against being lulled into a false sense of security when the eye of the storm passes over. |
| “People will see some daylight and think that the worst of the storm has passed. Once again, I must urge everyone to stay indoors for most of today,” Palaszczuk said. | “People will see some daylight and think that the worst of the storm has passed. Once again, I must urge everyone to stay indoors for most of today,” Palaszczuk said. |
| She said the storm was expected to make landfall between midday and 1pm, and authorities were expecting strong winds of 260km/h. | She said the storm was expected to make landfall between midday and 1pm, and authorities were expecting strong winds of 260km/h. |
| “My message to everyone in the region is to please stay safe. This is going to be a long day. A lot of people are bunkered down. They’re in a safe place, but it is going to take a long time, well into this afternoon and to the evening before winds even start to die down,” Palaszczuk said. | “My message to everyone in the region is to please stay safe. This is going to be a long day. A lot of people are bunkered down. They’re in a safe place, but it is going to take a long time, well into this afternoon and to the evening before winds even start to die down,” Palaszczuk said. |
| “The best place to be is in your safe place in your home. Do you not move out. Stay there. Stay with your family close by.” | “The best place to be is in your safe place in your home. Do you not move out. Stay there. Stay with your family close by.” |