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Cyclone batters Queensland
Queensland: a homestead completely cut off by floodwater
A tropical cyclone has hit Australia's tourist city of Cairns causing extensive damage but no serious casualties.
Cyclone Steve, with winds gusting up to 170 km/h (105 mph), tore off roofs and uprooted trees in and around the town in Queensland state.
Cyclone Steve, with winds gusting up to 170 km/h (105 mph), tore off roofs and uprooted trees in and around the town in Queensland state.
There's no power, it's as black as the ace of spades and there's no way I'm going outside yet  |
Cairns resident
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Cairns, which is the gateway for tourists visiting the Great Barrier Reef, was hit by 15cm (six inches) of rain on Saturday.
The eye of the cyclone, measuring 30km across, passed directly over the city.
A resident of the town said the cyclone was frightening but not the worst she has seen.
"The house shuddered and then there was the noise of the trees hitting the house," Pam McLennan said.
"When the strong wind gusts came it was frightening because we wondered whether the windows were going to go. There's no power, it's as black as the ace of spades and there's no way I'm going outside yet," she said.
Heavy losses
Further south, one-third of Queensland and swathes of inland New South Wales and South Australia, which are arid and dusty for most of the year, are still underwater after torrential rainfall in recent days.
"What we've got is three million hectares inundated and 25 homesteads, or about 100 people, who may be isolated by flood waters for up to six weeks," State Emergency Services (SES) duty operations officer Rick Stone said on Sunday.
The eye of the cyclone, measuring 30km across, passed directly over the city.
A resident of the town said the cyclone was frightening but not the worst she has seen.
"The house shuddered and then there was the noise of the trees hitting the house," Pam McLennan said.
"When the strong wind gusts came it was frightening because we wondered whether the windows were going to go. There's no power, it's as black as the ace of spades and there's no way I'm going outside yet," she said.
Heavy losses
Further south, one-third of Queensland and swathes of inland New South Wales and South Australia, which are arid and dusty for most of the year, are still underwater after torrential rainfall in recent days.
"What we've got is three million hectares inundated and 25 homesteads, or about 100 people, who may be isolated by flood waters for up to six weeks," State Emergency Services (SES) duty operations officer Rick Stone said on Sunday.
 These are the worst floods to hit Queensland in 50 years
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Cattle farmers in Queensland and New South Wales have reported thousands of sheep drowned in the floodwaters, with the toll rising daily.
"Cattle will float up to three days in floodwaters. If they can make ground within three days, cattle are pretty alright apart from very young calves and old bulls. It's a different matter with sheep. Once their wool is waterlogged, they drown," said Keith Adams, a spokesman for Queensland rural group Agforce.
Queensland's sugar cane farmers believe the floods will cost up to 100m Australian Dollars (US$63m) in lost production.
Floodwaters from Queensland were expected to reach New South Wales through the Paroo River system later in the week, but the SES said it was too early to assess what impact they might have.
The New South Wales Government declared the area a natural disaster on Friday night and promised affected families would receive relief money from the government.
"Cattle will float up to three days in floodwaters. If they can make ground within three days, cattle are pretty alright apart from very young calves and old bulls. It's a different matter with sheep. Once their wool is waterlogged, they drown," said Keith Adams, a spokesman for Queensland rural group Agforce.
Queensland's sugar cane farmers believe the floods will cost up to 100m Australian Dollars (US$63m) in lost production.
Floodwaters from Queensland were expected to reach New South Wales through the Paroo River system later in the week, but the SES said it was too early to assess what impact they might have.
The New South Wales Government declared the area a natural disaster on Friday night and promised affected families would receive relief money from the government.
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