Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Australia evacuates coastal cities in path of big cyclone
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Weekend Edition
Australia
China
India
Indonesia
Japan
Malaysia
Philippines
Thailand
Vietnam
Australia evacuates coastal cities in path of big cyclone
Reuters - 2 hours 4 minutes ago
Send
IM Story
Print
By Rob Taylor
CANBERRA - Australia evacuated thousands of people from its northeast coast on Tuesday as a cyclone rivalling Hurricane Katrina bore down on tourism towns and rural communities, with officials saying it could even threaten areas deep inland that were ruined by floods last month.
Mines, rail lines and coal ports were closed in Queensland state as Cyclone Yasi headed towards the coastline. Up to a third of Australia's sugar crop was also under threat, officials said.
"This storm is huge and life threatening," Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said, warning the system was still intensifying and picking up speed on its path from the Coral Sea, with destructive winds expected on Wednesday morning.
Cyclone Yasi is expected to generate winds of up to 280 kph when it hits the northern coast of tropical Queensland state early on Thursday, matching the strength of Katrina, which devastated New Orleans in 2005.
With a strong monsoon feeding Yasi's 650 km-wide front, the storm was also expected to maintain its intensity long after smashing into the coast and could sweep inland as far as the outback mining city of Mt Isa, some 900 km inland.
More than 400,000 people live in the cyclone's expected path, including the cities of Cairns, Townsville and Mackay, which are also key tourist areas and take in Australia's Great Barrier Reef.
Queensland, which accounts for about a fifth of Australia's economy and 90 percent of steelmaking coal exports worth about $20 billion a year, has had a cruel summer, with floods having swept the eastern seaboard over the past month, killing 35 people.
"There's no time for complacency," said Mike Brunker, mayor of the Whitsunday area near the Great Barrier Reef. "People in low-lying areas are evacuating to friends and family or, if they have to, leave town."
Satellite radar images showed Yasi as a massive storm covering almost the entire Coral Sea and moving towards Australia from near Vanuatu.
Among the areas in its path is the small tourist area of Mission Beach, which was flattened by Cyclone Larry in 2006.
"It's a beautiful day today, but all of the tourists have now gone and we're just preparing everything for the cyclone," Mission Beach resident Elvira Montgomery told Reuters.
"They are warning of a four metre tidal surge, so everything might all end up under water."
Authorities said Cyclone Yasi could be the most destructive cyclone to hit the area. A sugar industry official said it could threaten around a third of the state's sugar cane crop.
Island resorts in the Whitsundays and parts of the tourism hub of Cairns and military town of Townsville were being evacuated along with other areas in the danger zone, between Cooktown in the north and near Mackay, a port, further south.
Military C-130 transport aircraft also evacuated the main hospital in Cairns. Extra commercial flights were scheduled to cope with an expected exodus of holidaymakers and residents.
Police were also empowered to forcibly move people from danger zones.
"This is not a system that's going to cross the coast and rapidly weaken out," Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Gordon Banks said, warning winds could reach up to 280 kph and the storm could reach Mt Isa, 900 km inland.
"We could see this system pushing well in across northern Queensland as a significant tropical cyclone with damaging winds and very heavy rainfall," Banks said.
COAL INDUSTRY ON ALERT -- AGAIN
Queensland's coal industry, only just recovering from recent record floods, went back on alert on Tuesday, with at least one major mine closing down temporarily and rail operations suspended as the industry braced for the cyclone.
The country's largest coal freight company, QR National, temporarily closed two rail networks: the major Goonyella network, feeding into the export terminals of Dalrymple Bay and Hay Point, and its smaller Newlands line taking coal to Abbot Point, a company spokesman said
Global miner Rio Tinto shut its Hail Creek coal mine with the approach of the cyclone.
Queensland's coal mines are mostly inland and are still struggling to pump water out of their pits after flooding.
The Queensland Resources Council, an industry body, estimated coal miners would take until March to return to normal, even without the impact of cyclones.
Bligh said Yasi had the potential to cause powerful and deadly flash flooding in coastal areas. Most of the state's major coal ports were temporarily closed to shipping.
But she said the storm track had shifted slightly north, meaning flood devastated and coal mining areas of central Queensland may escape the worst of cyclonic rains.
"If there is any silver lining here, the movement of the cyclone slightly north has meant that when it travels west and moves inland, it is less likely to drop all of that massive rainfall into the central Queensland catchment areas that have already experienced flooding," Bligh said.
Last month's floods swamped around 30,000 homes, destroyed roads and rail lines and crippled Queensland's coal industry, with up to 15 million tonnes of exports estimated to have been delayed into the second half of this year.
Cyclone Yasi is expected to classified a "category 4" by the time it reaches the coast, similar to Cyclone Larry which hit the town of Innisfail in 2006, levelling sugar crops and causing A$1.5 billion worth of damage.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
S. Korea's Lee urges North to improve ties AFP - 15 minutes ago
Aussie swimming legend Thorpe to announce future plans AFP - 27 minutes ago
Japan volcano blast smashes windows AFP - 30 minutes ago
Somali pirates like life in S.Korea: report AFP - 46 minutes ago
China gives parents control of kids' online gaming AFP - 1 hour 4 minutes ago
News Search
Top Stories
BP says makes $4.9bln annual loss, first since 1992
U2's The Edge in row over Malibu home plans
Canada investigates mass sled dog slaughter
US golfer Woods finds old habits hard to shake
Photos released to protect endangered Amazonians
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
WikiLeaks' Assange 'dressed as old woman' to evade CIA: book
Brain scan can tell if a smoker will quit
US golfer Woods finds old habits hard to shake
Egypt protesters call for 'million-man march'
Photos released to protect endangered Amazonians
More Most Viewed »
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Weekend Edition
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo!
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Entertainment
Photos
Yahoo! News Network
Copyright © 2011 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Tuesday, 1 February 2011 Factbox
Chirac 'very well' despite Alzheimer's claim
US-TECH Summary
Iran hangs man convicted of apostasy
Al Jazeera TV says journalists released in Egypt
U.N. told North Korea has more secret atomic sites: envoys
|
Google topples Nokia from smartphones top spot
Left wins governorship in violent Mexican state
|
India insists on access to BlackBerry emails
Sudan says accepts south secession vote: Vice President
|
Google dethrones Nokia with Android smartphone: study
Management Tip of the Day: Add structure to social media
Scandal-hit Berlusconi to present growth plan
|
New app to bring U.S. art to wider audience
Chirac to attend trial in March: wife
|
More news websites blocked in Iran
Elpida to buy all DRAMs made by Taiwan's Powerchip
Cyber raids 'threaten British, US stock markets'
Iran warns France over Louvre artefacts: report
LG plans European mobile swipe payment system in 2012
James Bond composer John Barry dies aged 77
Ceva sees strong 2011 demand for its mobile chips
Google dethrones Nokia with Android smartphone: study
LG plans European mobile swipe payment system in 2012
|
Toshiba faces $100 million gender bias lawsuit
|
Facebook shopping discount service reaches Europe
|
Baidu options suggest possible breakout after earnings
|
Mobile 'apps' to be $58 billion market: study
US-TECH Summary
LG plans European mobile swipe payment system in 2012
Facebook shopping discount service reaches Europe
Toshiba returns to black for December quarter
Ceva sees strong 2011 demand for its mobile chips
Super Bowl offers chance to party with stars -- for a price
|
David Arquette checks out of rehab
|
Google launches Twitter workaround for Egypt
Top dissident arrested at Moscow rally
Baidu upbeat on outlook, targets social search
Canada investigates mass sled dog slaughter
Afghan drug war to be won with crops, not jails: judge
BP says makes $4.9bln annual loss, first since 1992
Google launches Twitter workaround for Egypt
US golfer Woods finds old habits hard to shake
Photos released to protect endangered Amazonians
Egypt braces for mass protests as army holds back
Egyptians gather for mass march to oust Mubarak
|
Obama to meet with tech company CEOs on Tuesday
Storm threatens 100 million in US with snow, ice, cold
Egyptians seek million-strong march to oust Mubarak
Pakistan court blocks handing over of U.S. diplomat
|
Oil hits $101 a barrel as Egypt protests mount
Google unveils Web-free 'tweeting' in Egypt move
U.S. urges Egypt's Mubarak do more
IBM touts social skills on RIM's PlayBook
WTO delivers verdict on Airbus vs. Boeing
Rival Koreas agree to military talks February 8
|
Governments, firms evacuate citizens from Egypt
Egypt's last working Web provider goes offline
Taliban 'abduct 21 Afghan tribal elders'
Wi-LAN reports more deals, expects to avoid court
S.Korea's Lee urges North to seize 'good chance'
Google topples Nokia from smartphones top spot
Countries evacuate citizens as Egypt crisis worsens
Australia evacuates coastal cities in path of big cyclone
|
NZ extends special forces Afghan deployment
Toshiba faces $100 million gender bias lawsuit
Pakistan judge blocks any move to hand over US gunman
In Myanmar's gleaming new capital, uncertain promise
|
EU calls for orderly transition in Egypt
Haiti opens door for return of ex-president Aristide
|
South Korea's conciliatory Lee hints at summit with North
US-TECH Summary
Russian police arrest dozens at anti-government rallies
|
Brittany Murphy death house averts forced auction
Israel's Netanyahu fears Egypt could go way of Iran
Australia evacuates coastal cities in path of big cyclone
Google topples Nokia from smartphones top spot
Floodwaters sweep away Bolivian bus, killing 31
|
US envoy to China quits amid 2012 buzz
Residents, tourists flee as cyclone nears Australia
Ivorian rivals dig in after AU panel move
|
N. Korea dissent on rise: US study
Singapore grannies take up ballet to stay healthy
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Brittany Murphy death house averts forced auction
U.N. told North Korea has more secret atomic sites
CBS orders replacements for "Two and a Half Men"
Japan volcano erupts with big blast of ash, rocks
Which network boasts the worst two-hour block?
Terrific actors face off in "Gruesome" play
U.S. wants TV producer to face homicide charge in Mexico
Lawsuit indicates new Rolling Stones tour in works
Google launches Twitter workaround for Egypt
|
Wallace Shawn juggles acting jobs, play writing
NZ commodity prices hit record high in Jan
Director Peter Weir finds "Way Back" to big screen
Taiwan's central bank to closely watch prices
Obama to meet with tech company CEOs on Tuesday
|
S.Korea c.bank urges capital controls coordination
IBM touts social skills on RIM's PlayBook
|
Seoul shares rise as POSCO, insurers jump
Taiwan economic growth at 23-year high in 2010
Wi-LAN reports more deals, expects to avoid court
|
NZ 98-day T-bills yield 3.07pct at tender
Baidu upbeat on outlook, targets social search
|
S.Korea inflation jump boosts Feb rate rise chance
Seoul shares open up, POSCO gains
Baidu Q4 net profit nearly triples
Wage growth picks up in Q4, but jobs market soft
Eva Longoria and Tony Parker finalize divorce
|
CBS orders replacements for Two and a Half Men
|
U.S. wants TV producer to face homicide charge in Mexico
|
Which network boasts the worst two-hour block?
|
Brittany Murphy death house averts forced auction
|
Terrific actors face off in Gruesome play
|
Director Peter Weir finds Way Back to big screen
|
Wallace Shawn juggles acting jobs, play writing
|
Lawsuit indicates new Rolling Stones tour in works
|
Val Kilmer going Deep with Texas indie drama
|
Swiss block Duvalier millions under new law
Yeltsin was disappointed in Putin: ex-chief of staff
U2's The Edge in row over Malibu home plans
Jordan's king appoints new PM after protests
|
Synagogue, schools attacked in Tunisia, fear spreads
|
Next Irish government faces dire economy
|
Iraq war casualties rise in January
|
U.S. praises Kazakh leader for skipping referendum
|
Indian warship collision caught on camera
U.N. offers to help Haiti prosecute Duvalier crimes
|
India minister warns of 'stalemate' with Maoists
China Nobel laureate Liu 'denied prison visits'
Chinese hitchikes home to celebrate Spring Festival
What you believe, I don't
Happy New Year, it's on me
'Imlek': A family affair
Pakistani stocks end lower on economic concerns
China says web 'open' despite Egypt news curbs
Google touts game changer in online art viewing
|
Thai inflation edges higher
Infineon, ARM shine; see steady growth
|
Anger over 'accidental' death of Chinese activist
India's exports jump 36.4% in December
Egypt fears keep oil above $100, Asian shares gain
Mercedes relaunches premium Maybach in India
IMF says ready to help Egypt, others in trouble
Samsung offers full refund for Intel chip
Inflation fears as Asian manufacturing stays strong
S.Korea may cut tariffs, taxes to curb inflation
Lambert leads Academy of Country Music nominees
|
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights