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Evacuations begin as Cyclone Ita bears down on Queensland coast | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Evacuations have begun and Queensland's premier is returning from overseas as the strongest cyclone since Yasi in 2011 moves in on the state's far north. | |
Cyclone Ita is due to intensify into a category four storm early on Thursday morning and cross the coast north of Cooktown on Friday night bringing gales of up to 240km/h. | |
It poses a significant threat to sparse communities between Cape Grenville and the Lockhart river, with strong gusts, storm surges and heavy rain beginning on Thursday. | It poses a significant threat to sparse communities between Cape Grenville and the Lockhart river, with strong gusts, storm surges and heavy rain beginning on Thursday. |
The storm comes three years after category five Yasi ripped through Queensland, causing $3.5bn worth of damage and lost tourism earnings. | The storm comes three years after category five Yasi ripped through Queensland, causing $3.5bn worth of damage and lost tourism earnings. |
Yasi unleashed its wrath about 1,000km south of where Ita is forecast to cross. | Yasi unleashed its wrath about 1,000km south of where Ita is forecast to cross. |
"The winds won't be as strong as Yasi, but it will be the worst we've had since," Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Andrew Cameron said. | "The winds won't be as strong as Yasi, but it will be the worst we've had since," Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Andrew Cameron said. |
All staff and guests have been evacuated off Lizard Island on the Great Barrier Reef as a precaution. The last time the resort was evacuated was during Yasi, although the island wasn't affected. | |
Premier Campbell Newman has also cut short his Asian trade mission with prime minister Tony Abbott and will fly home on Thursday to oversee preparations for Ita. | |
Those in the small Cape York communities likely to be affected spent Wednesday stocking up on supplies and clearing yards. | |
Peter Scott, mayor of Cookshire council, which covers 80% of Cape York, says Ita could be one of the worst storms to hit the area in decades. | Peter Scott, mayor of Cookshire council, which covers 80% of Cape York, says Ita could be one of the worst storms to hit the area in decades. |
"Residents need to be ready and have somewhere safe to shelter," he said. | "Residents need to be ready and have somewhere safe to shelter," he said. |
He said there was a good supply of food and fuel. | He said there was a good supply of food and fuel. |
Residents of Lockhart river on eastern Cape York were stocking up on food and clearing their yards in preparation for the storm. | Residents of Lockhart river on eastern Cape York were stocking up on food and clearing their yards in preparation for the storm. |
"People are pretty calm but the wind is picking up," local woman Lisa, who declined to give her last name, said. | "People are pretty calm but the wind is picking up," local woman Lisa, who declined to give her last name, said. |
Meanwhile, local district disaster management groups are holding meetings across the state's far north on Wednesday. | Meanwhile, local district disaster management groups are holding meetings across the state's far north on Wednesday. |
Far north district acting chief superintendent Brett Schafferius says there are no plans for evacuations but extra police will be sent to affected areas. | Far north district acting chief superintendent Brett Schafferius says there are no plans for evacuations but extra police will be sent to affected areas. |
Staff from Emergency Management Queensland (EMQ), including a swift water rescue team, will head to Cooktown on Thursday. | Staff from Emergency Management Queensland (EMQ), including a swift water rescue team, will head to Cooktown on Thursday. |
Road and electricity resources have also been sent to the state's north. | Road and electricity resources have also been sent to the state's north. |
Before forming into cyclone Ita, the tropical depression led to 21 deaths in Solomon Islands last week. | Before forming into cyclone Ita, the tropical depression led to 21 deaths in Solomon Islands last week. |
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