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Tourists flee Barrier Reef resorts as ‘killer’ storm approaches
Thousand of tourists have fled resorts along the north Queensland coast to avoid being caught up in the destruction of Cyclone Yasi.
The cyclone, described by authorities as a ‘monster, killer storm’ is due to hit the northeastern Australian state over the next 24 hours.
Barrier Reef resorts, such as Hamilton Island (pictured here) have closed and have advised clients to leave.
Qantas and Virgin Blue have sent extra planes to help visitors leave the area.
According to the Australian newspaper, Virgin Blue planned to offer 900 more seats before Cairns airport shuts down to all but emergency aircraft.
Qantas subsidiary Jetstar put on five extra flights from Cairns and two from Hamilton Island.
More than 400,000 people live in the area where the cyclone is due to hit.
Anyone who has not already evacuated has been told it is now too late to escape.
Australia’s Prime Minister Julia Gillard warned the state to brace for widespread destruction and warned residents who have been unable to evacuate that they now face "many, many dreadful frightening hours".
She said the cyclone is a “powerful natural force but the courage of the people of far north Queensland is an even stronger force again”.
The same strength as Hurricane Katrina, Yasi is expected to be the most deadly cyclone to ever hit Australia.
It is due to make landfall at 2pm GMT, near the town of Innisfail, an hour’s drive south of Cairns.
A storm surge of up to 20ft above the high tide level is expected to cause widespread flooding.
By Bev Fearis
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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