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Cyclone Ita: Cooktown residents assess overnight damage with relief Cyclone Ita: Cooktown residents assess overnight damage with relief
(35 minutes later)
Strong gales and heavy rain continued to batter far north Queensland on Saturday as Cooktown locals took stock of the damage caused overnight by tropical cyclone Ita and air traffic at Cairns airport was halted.Strong gales and heavy rain continued to batter far north Queensland on Saturday as Cooktown locals took stock of the damage caused overnight by tropical cyclone Ita and air traffic at Cairns airport was halted.
Roofs were ripped from at least two homes and a pub overnight after fierce winds tore through the coastal community. Large trees have been uprooted and branches, fence posts and snapped powerlines lay strewn across roads.Roofs were ripped from at least two homes and a pub overnight after fierce winds tore through the coastal community. Large trees have been uprooted and branches, fence posts and snapped powerlines lay strewn across roads.
Mayor Peter Scott said he was feeling relieved as he had expected to wake up to widespread devastation.Mayor Peter Scott said he was feeling relieved as he had expected to wake up to widespread devastation.
"There's a lot of vegetation on the road and we've unfortunately seen some buildings damaged," he said, "but there hasn't been a lot of structural damage.""There's a lot of vegetation on the road and we've unfortunately seen some buildings damaged," he said, "but there hasn't been a lot of structural damage."
Queensland premier Campbell Newman is planning to visit Cooktown on Saturday, depending on weather conditions.Queensland premier Campbell Newman is planning to visit Cooktown on Saturday, depending on weather conditions.
"This afternoon, if it is safe and practical, I intend to go to Cooktown," the premier told reporters in Cairns on Saturday. "That will depend, of course, on weather conditions.""This afternoon, if it is safe and practical, I intend to go to Cooktown," the premier told reporters in Cairns on Saturday. "That will depend, of course, on weather conditions."
Flights in and out of Cairns airport have been halted as the cyclone continues to buffet Queensland's far north.Flights in and out of Cairns airport have been halted as the cyclone continues to buffet Queensland's far north.
"People should only come to the airport if their flights are confirmed by the airline," an airport spokeswoman said."People should only come to the airport if their flights are confirmed by the airline," an airport spokeswoman said.
Cooktown woman Diana Spiker spent the morning walking her dog and assessing the damage around the town. She said she expected to find things looking much worse. The main road into Cooktown, with a population of about 2,300 people, remains closed because of the flooding.
Local woman Diana Spiker spent the morning walking her dog and assessing the damage around the town. She said she expected to find things looking much worse.
"They were talking about a category five at one stage so I thought there would have been a lot more damage.""They were talking about a category five at one stage so I thought there would have been a lot more damage."
Standing near fallen trees and broken powerlines, Spiker described the storm as surreal and said she spent a sleepless night hunkered down in her home with friends.Standing near fallen trees and broken powerlines, Spiker described the storm as surreal and said she spent a sleepless night hunkered down in her home with friends.
Most residents have been without power since Friday afternoon.Most residents have been without power since Friday afternoon.
Authorities had been warning that Ita could be the worst cyclone to hit Queensland since Yasi three years ago.Authorities had been warning that Ita could be the worst cyclone to hit Queensland since Yasi three years ago.
Ita was a category five as it approached the Queensland coast but had been downgraded to a four as it crossed near Cape Flattery about 9pm on Friday, the Bureau of Meteorology said.Ita was a category five as it approached the Queensland coast but had been downgraded to a four as it crossed near Cape Flattery about 9pm on Friday, the Bureau of Meteorology said.
By midnight Ita had been downgraded to category three, with wind gusts up to 117km/h recorded in Cooktown just after midnight. The cyclone has since been downgraded to a category one as it tracks south across the state.By midnight Ita had been downgraded to category three, with wind gusts up to 117km/h recorded in Cooktown just after midnight. The cyclone has since been downgraded to a category one as it tracks south across the state.
But the danger isn't over, with cyclone warnings still current for coastal areas from Cape Melville to Cardwell including Cooktown, Port Douglas and Cairns, and extending inland to areas including Mareeba and Chillagoe.But the danger isn't over, with cyclone warnings still current for coastal areas from Cape Melville to Cardwell including Cooktown, Port Douglas and Cairns, and extending inland to areas including Mareeba and Chillagoe.
BoM said destructive winds of up to 130km/h were possible between Cape Tribulation and Port Douglas "for a brief period this morning". The bureau said destructive winds of up to 130km/h were possible between Cape Tribulation and Port Douglas "for a brief period this morning".
Gales with wind gusts of up to 110km/h were possible between Cape Melville and Port Douglas, as well as in areas including Mareeba later today and as far south as Innisfail, Chillagoe and Cardwell this evening.Gales with wind gusts of up to 110km/h were possible between Cape Melville and Port Douglas, as well as in areas including Mareeba later today and as far south as Innisfail, Chillagoe and Cardwell this evening.
BoM warned coastal residents between Cooktown and Cairns of a storm tide this morning, and said heavy rain could lead to flash flooding in parts of the peninsula, north tropical coast and tablelands districts. The bureau warned coastal residents between Cooktown and Cairns of a storm tide this morning, and said heavy rain could lead to flash flooding in parts of the peninsula, north tropical coast and tablelands districts.
Daryl Camp from Emergency Management Queensland said crews were assessing the damage in Cooktown. He said it would be safe for people to leave their houses and shelters when the winds died down, "but we'll have to wait and see what Ita has done".Daryl Camp from Emergency Management Queensland said crews were assessing the damage in Cooktown. He said it would be safe for people to leave their houses and shelters when the winds died down, "but we'll have to wait and see what Ita has done".