Military mobilises to help cyclone-ravaged Australia

AYR: Towns remained cut off in northern Australia Wednesday after being pummelled by a powerful cyclone that washed battered yachts ashore and ripped roofs off houses, as the military mobilised to help with the clean-up, reports AFP. 
The category four storm slammed into the coast of Queensland state between Bowen and Airlie Beach on Tuesday afternoon, packing destructive winds and devastating some of the region's tourist hotspots.
It has since been downgraded to a tropical low but the Bureau of Meteorology still warned of damaging wind gusts with "intense" rain, sparking flooding fears as river levels rise. "This rainfall is likely to lead to major river flooding over a broad area this week," it said.
Some areas have been drenched in "a phenomenal" 1,000 millimetres (39 inches) of rain in just 48 hours -- the equivalent of half a year's worth, according to the weather bureau.
Roads to the towns of Bowen, Airlie Beach and Proserpine were inaccessible, with more than 60,000 homes without power and communications down in many areas. But no deaths were reported and only one significant injury -- a man crushed by a collapsing wall. 
Emergency crews began assessing the damage but blocked roads and flash flooding hampered efforts, as soldiers, military helicopters and planes started deploying to help restore infrastructure and supply emergency food, water and fuel.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk flew by helicopter to Bowen, which bore much of the brunt, and said mass evacuations helped save lives.
Tens of thousands of people moved to higher ground or cyclone shelters or left the region before Cyclone Debbie made landfall.
"Thankfully the extent of the damage here is not as widespread as we first anticipated, but of course there are lots of trees down... we've seen the impact of roofs being blown off people's houses," she said.

Military mobilises to help cyclone-ravaged Australia

AYR: Towns remained cut off in northern Australia Wednesday after being pummelled by a powerful cyclone that washed battered yachts ashore and ripped roofs off houses, as the military mobilised to help with the clean-up, reports AFP. The category four storm slammed into the coast of Queensland state between Bowen and Airlie Beach on Tuesday afternoon, packing destructive winds and devastating some of the regions tourist hotspots. It has since been downgraded to a tropical low but the Bureau of Meteorology still warned of damaging wind gusts with intense rain, sparking flooding fears as river levels rise. This rainfall is likely to lead to major river flooding over a broad area this week, it said. Some areas have been drenched in a phenomenal 1,000 millimetres (39 inches) of rain in just 48 hours -- the equivalent of half a years worth, according to the weather bureau. Roads to the towns of Bowen, Airlie Beach and Proserpine were inaccessible, with more than 60,000 homes without power and communications down in many areas. But no deaths were reported and only one significant injury -- a man crushed by a collapsing wall. Emergency crews began assessing the damage but blocked roads and flash flooding hampered efforts, as soldiers, military helicopters and planes started deploying to help restore infrastructure and supply emergency food, water and fuel. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk flew by helicopter to Bowen, which bore much of the brunt, and said mass evacuations helped save lives. Tens of thousands of people moved to higher ground or cyclone shelters or left the region before Cyclone Debbie made landfall. Thankfully the extent of the damage here is not as widespread as we first anticipated, but of course there are lots of trees down... weve seen the impact of roofs being blown off peoples houses, she said.