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Thousands told to evacuate as Cyclone Debbie continues to wreak havoc Thousands told to evacuate as ex-Cyclone Debbie wreaks havoc
(35 minutes later)
Cyclone Debbie has continued to wreak havoc on Australia’s east coast with large areas of Queensland and northern New South Wales battered by torrential rain and heavy winds, forcing the closure of schools, offices and the possible evacuation of thousands of people. Cyclone Debbie has continued to wreak havoc on Australia’s east coast with large areas of Queensland and northern New South Wales battered by torrential rain and heavy winds, forcing the closure of schools, offices and evacuation orders for thousands of people.
Some areas received more than 400mm of rain during Thursday and the wild weather, which forced the Queensland government to close schools and send public servants home, has been forecast to intensify through the evening. Some areas received almost 500mm on Thursday and the wild weather, which forced the Queensland government to close schools and send public servants home, has been forecast to intensify through the evening.
Parts of Brisbane received 226mm of rain – twice the average monthly rainfall for the city for March – in the 24 hours to Thursday evening.Residents in the Lockyer Valley, which was devastated by an inland tsunami during the 2011 floods, were told by the local disaster management group to relocate as the threat of overnight flooding grew.
Thousands of people will have to endure the storm without many domestic comforts. Electricity company Energex said more than 52,000 customers were without power in south-east Queensland on Thursday night.Thousands of people will have to endure the storm without many domestic comforts. Electricity company Energex said more than 52,000 customers were without power in south-east Queensland on Thursday night.
The weather bureau was also worried about high winds gusting up to 125km/h in coastal areas. The winds were whipping up huge seas with one wave more than eight metres high recorded at Mooloolaba on the Sunshine Coast.The weather bureau was also worried about high winds gusting up to 125km/h in coastal areas. The winds were whipping up huge seas with one wave more than eight metres high recorded at Mooloolaba on the Sunshine Coast.
A wave of over 8m has been recorded off Mooloolaba after the Sunshine Coast copped wind gusts over 100km/h @9NewsQueensland pic.twitter.com/HhlOB4P3HXA wave of over 8m has been recorded off Mooloolaba after the Sunshine Coast copped wind gusts over 100km/h @9NewsQueensland pic.twitter.com/HhlOB4P3HX
On the Gold Coast, residents in the Tallebudgera Valley were warned they could become cut off thanks to rising flood waters. At nearby Springbrook, 380mm had fallen in the 12 hours up to midday, with as much as 500mm predicted. On the Gold Coast, residents in the Tallebudgera Valley were warned they could become cut off thanks to rising flood waters. At nearby Springbrook, 486mm had fallen by evening with more expected.
The bureau also warned a “dangerous” thunderstorm was detected south-west of Noosa Heads bringing “destructive winds”.The bureau also warned a “dangerous” thunderstorm was detected south-west of Noosa Heads bringing “destructive winds”.
The weather front, which crashed into northern Queensland on Tuesday, is working its way south into NSW.The weather front, which crashed into northern Queensland on Tuesday, is working its way south into NSW.
Up to 6,000 residents in Lismore were told to evacuate with major flooding forecast along the Wilsons River on Thursday night. Levels are predicted to top those recorded during the 2001 and 2005 floods.Up to 6,000 residents in Lismore were told to evacuate with major flooding forecast along the Wilsons River on Thursday night. Levels are predicted to top those recorded during the 2001 and 2005 floods.
Closer to the Queensland border, residents in South Murwillumbah, Condong and Tumbulgum areas were also been ordered to leave, with the Tweed river experiencing major flooding. Up to 417mm of rain fell over the Tweed River Valley in the 24 hours up to 6pm on Thursday.Closer to the Queensland border, residents in South Murwillumbah, Condong and Tumbulgum areas were also been ordered to leave, with the Tweed river experiencing major flooding. Up to 417mm of rain fell over the Tweed River Valley in the 24 hours up to 6pm on Thursday.
People in Tweed Heads South and West, Chinderah, Kingscliff, Fingal Head and Bilambil were told to evacuate too.“Do not delay your evacuation. Roads will be congested or closed. You could become trapped and need rescue,” the SES said in a statement.The SES conducted more than 30 flood rescues on Thursday.NSW SES acting deputy commissioner Mark Morrow said time was of the essence.“Of course, we’re moving into the hours of darkness through the afternoon [and] we’ve got more rainfall due tonight,” he told ABC TV.People in Tweed Heads South and West, Chinderah, Kingscliff, Fingal Head and Bilambil were told to evacuate too.“Do not delay your evacuation. Roads will be congested or closed. You could become trapped and need rescue,” the SES said in a statement.The SES conducted more than 30 flood rescues on Thursday.NSW SES acting deputy commissioner Mark Morrow said time was of the essence.“Of course, we’re moving into the hours of darkness through the afternoon [and] we’ve got more rainfall due tonight,” he told ABC TV.
Further south, a severe weather warning has been issued for destructive winds, heavy rainfall, abnormally high tides and damaging surf along the coast north of Sydney.Further south, a severe weather warning has been issued for destructive winds, heavy rainfall, abnormally high tides and damaging surf along the coast north of Sydney.
Winds averaging 65km/h, with gusts in excess of 90km/h, are forecast for the coastal fringe from Sydney to Forster on Thursday night, and from Sydney to Yamba overnight into Friday, the bureau added.Winds averaging 65km/h, with gusts in excess of 90km/h, are forecast for the coastal fringe from Sydney to Forster on Thursday night, and from Sydney to Yamba overnight into Friday, the bureau added.
In northern Queensland, the skies cleared to give people some respite and allow army and energy company crews to assess and repair damage on the ground.In northern Queensland, the skies cleared to give people some respite and allow army and energy company crews to assess and repair damage on the ground.
In Ayr, where the cyclone made landfall, a bull shark washed up on a road prompting calls for people to stay out of floodwaters.In Ayr, where the cyclone made landfall, a bull shark washed up on a road prompting calls for people to stay out of floodwaters.
Think it's safe to go back in the water? Think again! A bull shark washed up in Ayr. Stay out of floodwater. #TCDebbie #ifitsfloodedforgetit pic.twitter.com/DpP29Va1JGThink it's safe to go back in the water? Think again! A bull shark washed up in Ayr. Stay out of floodwater. #TCDebbie #ifitsfloodedforgetit pic.twitter.com/DpP29Va1JG
Highway access from the north was restored after the road was blocked at the height of the storm on Tuesday but locals in Bowen and other communities were into their fourth day without power or running water. Long queues formed at petrol staions for fuel and people flocked to reopened supermarkets to buy essentials.Highway access from the north was restored after the road was blocked at the height of the storm on Tuesday but locals in Bowen and other communities were into their fourth day without power or running water. Long queues formed at petrol staions for fuel and people flocked to reopened supermarkets to buy essentials.
One Bowen resident, Lawrie Brazil, said: “We’ve got a generator fuel and cold beer – the worst part is no water.”One Bowen resident, Lawrie Brazil, said: “We’ve got a generator fuel and cold beer – the worst part is no water.”
Overseas visitors were packing up and moving out of Airlie Beach where they had spent four days without essential supplies. Nanna Ring, from Denmark, had arrived in Airlie Beach with four friends in the days before the cyclone hit in the vain hope of visiting the Whitsunday Islands.Overseas visitors were packing up and moving out of Airlie Beach where they had spent four days without essential supplies. Nanna Ring, from Denmark, had arrived in Airlie Beach with four friends in the days before the cyclone hit in the vain hope of visiting the Whitsunday Islands.
But the storm forced them to revise their plans and they was leaving after enduring a few days without basic supplies. “We haven’t had a shower for four days and we’re down to a few bananas and we’ve basically lived off chips,” she said.But the storm forced them to revise their plans and they was leaving after enduring a few days without basic supplies. “We haven’t had a shower for four days and we’re down to a few bananas and we’ve basically lived off chips,” she said.
Queensland emergency services commissioner Katarina Carroll said she was stunned there had been no lives lost or significant injuries in northern areas.“Extraordinarily surprising but you know, I think the community has been listening (to warnings),” she told the Nine Network.“The difficulty with last night was you couldn’t see. It was dark but also the conditions were horrendous, we couldn’t move.“In two-storey houses there was water actually buffeting of the second storey, so there was an extraordinary spike in the triple-0 calls.”