This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-31544694
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| 'Destructive' tropical cyclone Marcia hits Queensland | 'Destructive' tropical cyclone Marcia hits Queensland |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A "very destructive" storm has hit the coast of Queensland, forcing evacuations from coastal communities, Australian officials say. | A "very destructive" storm has hit the coast of Queensland, forcing evacuations from coastal communities, Australian officials say. |
| Forecasters warn Category Five tropical cyclone Marcia - with wind gusts up to 285km/h (177 mph) - is bringing heavy rain and "abnormally high tides". | Forecasters warn Category Five tropical cyclone Marcia - with wind gusts up to 285km/h (177 mph) - is bringing heavy rain and "abnormally high tides". |
| The cyclone made landfall between St Lawrence and Yeppoon. | The cyclone made landfall between St Lawrence and Yeppoon. |
| Separately, Category Four tropical cyclone Lam hit the Northern Territory, causing power cuts for thousands. | Separately, Category Four tropical cyclone Lam hit the Northern Territory, causing power cuts for thousands. |
| The storm - with winds reaching 230km/h - struck Elcho Island and is moving south-west. Local residents said roofs had been torn off from a number of houses and trees uprooted. | The storm - with winds reaching 230km/h - struck Elcho Island and is moving south-west. Local residents said roofs had been torn off from a number of houses and trees uprooted. |
| There have been no reports of injuries there, and the storm was later downgraded to Category Three as it continued moving inland. | There have been no reports of injuries there, and the storm was later downgraded to Category Three as it continued moving inland. |
| 'Real moving beast' | |
| "Severe tropical cyclone Marcia, Category Five, is currently crossing the coast near Shoalwater Bay north of Yeppoon," Australia's Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) said in a statement. | "Severe tropical cyclone Marcia, Category Five, is currently crossing the coast near Shoalwater Bay north of Yeppoon," Australia's Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) said in a statement. |
| It said "destructive winds" would threaten communities between St Lawrence and Gladstone in the morning, and Capricornia and Burnett districts later in the day. | It said "destructive winds" would threaten communities between St Lawrence and Gladstone in the morning, and Capricornia and Burnett districts later in the day. |
| Local residents should be prepared for an evacuation if advised by the authorities, the BoM added. It also warned about possible tidal and flash flooding. | |
| Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said 134 schools and 43 child care centres along the coast had been closed so far. | Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said 134 schools and 43 child care centres along the coast had been closed so far. |
| She said 100 people had been evacuated from Lady Elliot Island, a coral cay located at the southern tip of the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef, and some tourists were being moved to safety on Heron Island, also on the Great Barrier Reef. | She said 100 people had been evacuated from Lady Elliot Island, a coral cay located at the southern tip of the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef, and some tourists were being moved to safety on Heron Island, also on the Great Barrier Reef. |
| In Yeppoon, about 870 homes were evacuated because of storm surges, according to Queensland emergency authorities. | In Yeppoon, about 870 homes were evacuated because of storm surges, according to Queensland emergency authorities. |
| The mayor of the nearby town of Rockhampton, Margaret Strelow, told ABC Radio that Marcia was like "a real moving beast" as it appeared to head first to the west of the city and then to the east. | The mayor of the nearby town of Rockhampton, Margaret Strelow, told ABC Radio that Marcia was like "a real moving beast" as it appeared to head first to the west of the city and then to the east. |
| Further south, local media reported that 90,000 sandbags had so far been handed out across Queensland's major city, Brisbane, because of predictions of heavy rain and flooding. | Further south, local media reported that 90,000 sandbags had so far been handed out across Queensland's major city, Brisbane, because of predictions of heavy rain and flooding. |
| At a news conference, Ms Palaszczuk said it was "a serious event", warning that "over the next few hours, many thousands of Queenslanders are going to go through a harrowing and terrifying experience". | At a news conference, Ms Palaszczuk said it was "a serious event", warning that "over the next few hours, many thousands of Queenslanders are going to go through a harrowing and terrifying experience". |
| Category Five tropical cyclone | Category Five tropical cyclone |
| Source: Australia's Bureau of Meteorology | Source: Australia's Bureau of Meteorology |
| "This is an important time now not to panic but to make sure you have you preparations in place," she said. | "This is an important time now not to panic but to make sure you have you preparations in place," she said. |
| Describing the cyclone as "very serious", Prime Minister Tony Abbott later said: "Let's hope we can get through it... without any loss of life". | |
| A number of people from coastal areas were evacuated before the cyclone hit. | A number of people from coastal areas were evacuated before the cyclone hit. |
| Officials later said that the situation was so dangerous that emergency workers would soon need to take cover themselves, the BBC's Phil Mercer in Sydney reports. | |
| Several towns - including Mackay, Proserpine and Yeppoon, about 670km north of Brisbane - were reportedly in lockdown, establishing emergency centres. | Several towns - including Mackay, Proserpine and Yeppoon, about 670km north of Brisbane - were reportedly in lockdown, establishing emergency centres. |
| "This is going to be a calamity, no doubt about that," Queensland Police Commissioner Ian Stewart said, warning that it was a "desperate situation". | "This is going to be a calamity, no doubt about that," Queensland Police Commissioner Ian Stewart said, warning that it was a "desperate situation". |
| "Our primary focus from this point on is the safety of all human life in that area." | "Our primary focus from this point on is the safety of all human life in that area." |
| Marlina Whop, an ABC reporter in Yeppoon, said there was a "horizontal rain" in the town and residents were worried about a storm surge. | |
| "It's the unknown that's the worry," Yeppoon resident Beeann Busby earlier told the Brisbane Courier Mail newspaper. | "It's the unknown that's the worry," Yeppoon resident Beeann Busby earlier told the Brisbane Courier Mail newspaper. |
| "We've had so many close calls over the years that we've probably gotten a bit complacent but this one's looking a bit more serious." | "We've had so many close calls over the years that we've probably gotten a bit complacent but this one's looking a bit more serious." |
| In 2013, powerful tropical cyclone Oswald hit Queensland, killing at least four people and flooding wide areas. | In 2013, powerful tropical cyclone Oswald hit Queensland, killing at least four people and flooding wide areas. |
| Are you in Queensland? Have you been affected by the storm? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experience. Please include a telephone number if you are willing to be contacted by a BBC journalist. | Are you in Queensland? Have you been affected by the storm? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experience. Please include a telephone number if you are willing to be contacted by a BBC journalist. |
| Have your say | Have your say |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (international). Or you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (international). Or you can upload here. |
| Read the terms and conditions. | Read the terms and conditions. |