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Cyclone Ita expected to make landfall on Friday night near Cooktown Cyclone Ita expected to make landfall on Friday night near Cooktown
(5 months later)
Tropical Cyclone Ita was due to make landfall in Queensland on Friday night near Cooktown but was downgraded to a category four storm.Tropical Cyclone Ita was due to make landfall in Queensland on Friday night near Cooktown but was downgraded to a category four storm.
The weather bureau said the cyclone had slowed but winds of up to 275 km/h could be expected when the cyclone hit land north of the Daintree region, between 9pm and midnight.The weather bureau said the cyclone had slowed but winds of up to 275 km/h could be expected when the cyclone hit land north of the Daintree region, between 9pm and midnight.
More than 9,000 residents of far north Queensland coastal communities in the path of the tropical cyclone were warned to expect “very destructive winds”, possible flash flooding and storm surges as the giant weather system bears down.More than 9,000 residents of far north Queensland coastal communities in the path of the tropical cyclone were warned to expect “very destructive winds”, possible flash flooding and storm surges as the giant weather system bears down.
The main evacuation centre in Cooktown was locked down with around 300 people inside, the ABC reported. There are also reports of power outages.The main evacuation centre in Cooktown was locked down with around 300 people inside, the ABC reported. There are also reports of power outages.
30,000 residents in Cairns were urged to evacuate.30,000 residents in Cairns were urged to evacuate.
The Queensland premier, Campbell Newman, said that despite the downgrading, Ita remained a "very destructive cyclone which has very strong winds”.The Queensland premier, Campbell Newman, said that despite the downgrading, Ita remained a "very destructive cyclone which has very strong winds”.
"The communities of Hope Vale and Cooktown are staring down quite a destructive cyclonic event,” Campbell said. “Those communities, by now, should have seen people moved to cyclone shelters or taking refuge in more modern buildings.""The communities of Hope Vale and Cooktown are staring down quite a destructive cyclonic event,” Campbell said. “Those communities, by now, should have seen people moved to cyclone shelters or taking refuge in more modern buildings."
He warned that buildings built before 1985 could be at risk.He warned that buildings built before 1985 could be at risk.
"Remember the safest part of the building is usually in the bathroom because of the plumbing and strengthening of the walls in that part of the structure," he said."Remember the safest part of the building is usually in the bathroom because of the plumbing and strengthening of the walls in that part of the structure," he said.
He said that further emergency services would be deployed to affected regions as soon as it was safe to do so.He said that further emergency services would be deployed to affected regions as soon as it was safe to do so.
He said that once the cyclone passed the priority would be to restore vital services including electricity, which he warned could be "down for some time". He said that once the cyclone passed the priority would be to restore vital services including electricity, which he warned could be "down for some time".