SYDNEY - The coast of Queensland, already devastated by flooding last month, has been swept by Cyclone Yasi, one of the most violent in the history of Australia with winds that reached 300 kilometers per hour. The people and the authorities still pull a sigh of relief: Yasi, intensity 5, the highest, the same as Katrina did not cause casualties.
But the physical damage is considerable. Photo Damage - Watch Video From The satellite emergency crews flanked by 4,000 soldiers immediately came into action in the towns affected. In several tourist centers in front of the Great Barrier Reef and the winds destroyed buildings, ripped off roofs and downed trees and power lines, but there is no news of deaths or serious injuries.
The storm reached the mainland at about midnight local time (15 yesterday in Italy) along hundreds of kilometers of coast and today is directed inwards, losing intensity (down to category 2), but bringing torrential rains in agricultural or mining areas already saturated by flooding. The Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has noted with relief that some of the city, including Cairns (13,000 inhabitants), have been spared the worst damage.
"I am also aware that many communities face today scenes of great devastation - have said - many will experience a deep sense of despair. I can only say: you will not be alone." 
But the physical damage is considerable. Photo Damage - Watch Video From The satellite emergency crews flanked by 4,000 soldiers immediately came into action in the towns affected. In several tourist centers in front of the Great Barrier Reef and the winds destroyed buildings, ripped off roofs and downed trees and power lines, but there is no news of deaths or serious injuries.
The storm reached the mainland at about midnight local time (15 yesterday in Italy) along hundreds of kilometers of coast and today is directed inwards, losing intensity (down to category 2), but bringing torrential rains in agricultural or mining areas already saturated by flooding. The Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has noted with relief that some of the city, including Cairns (13,000 inhabitants), have been spared the worst damage.
"I am also aware that many communities face today scenes of great devastation - have said - many will experience a deep sense of despair. I can only say: you will not be alone."
- Live blog: Cyclone Yasi set to devastate Queensland (02/02/2011)
- "Australia: Yasi crosses coast" and related posts (02/02/2011)
- NASA Aqua Satellite sees powerful Cyclone Yasi make landfall in Queensland, Australia (03/02/2011)
- Yasi set to blow some perspective into levy debate (02/02/2011)
- Cyclone Yasi Hits Queensland Coast (03/02/2011)
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