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Cyclone Yasi Heads Towards Queensland Coast - Advice For Travellers

  • Last Updated: 04/01/2011
  • Category: Environmental

Summary: Forced evacuations are underway as the Category 3 Cyclone Yasi approaches the Queensland coast. According to the Bureau of Meteorology, the cyclone is predicted to hit Cairns directly early on Thursday morning.

Advice for travellers:

As a British national you are advised to:

  • Seek accommodation with family and friends elsewhere in Australia - as far south as possible - if you can.
  • Register with the authorities by phoning 1300 993 191 if you have nowhere else to go - emergency accommodation will be provided.
  • Contact your airline as soon as possible to arrange a flight out - most major airlines are arranging extra flights to accommodate passengers.
  • Avoid panic-buying petrol if you are using a car to get around.
  • Get in touch with the Queensland Emergency Services on 1300 369 003.
  • Contact the British Consulate in Brisbane on (+61) (0) 7 3223 3200.

Which areas along the coast will be hit?

The popular tourist destination of Cairns is first in the storm's path, where about 9,000 people are expected to be evacuated. Authorities predict a range of possible landfall sites, from as far north as Cooktown to as far south as Townsville.

A number of island resorts in north Queensland are also being evacuated, including Hamilton Island and Club Med Lindeman Island. Others are preparing for evacuation over the next few days.

Category 4 storm expected:

Authorities are in the process of ordering residents in north Queensland to leave their homes, fearing that Cyclone Yasi could bring a two-metre storm surge. The cyclone is expected to reach a Category 4 status in coming days, which would cause significant damage.

The state of Queensland has already suffered severe flooding since the start of November 2010. The floods damaged 30,000 homes and businesses and left Brisbane under water for days.

Floods Head For Brisbane - Advice and Information For Travellers

Last Updated: 11 January 2011

Summary: Parts of Brisbane are preparing for evacuation as floods are expected to hit the city by Wednesday and intensify by Thursday.

Advice for affected travellers:

While there are no forced evacuations underway in Brisbane's CBD, several major employers, including government departments, advised their employees to go home today. In the wake of this exodus, if you are in the city, we advise travellers to:

  • Remain calm, be prepared and stay up to date with flooding information here
  • Call the British Consulate-General in Sydney on (02) 9247 7521 if you require urgent consular assistance
  • Avoid unnecessary travel and don't drive near any flooded roads or bridges
  • Obey the instructions of emergency personnel, police and other authorities if evacuation is required
  • Only stock up on essentials such as water if you need to; panic-buying will only worsen the situation and lead to a shortage of supplies
  • Preserve electricity wherever possible if you are one of the Energex customers, residing in a riverside area, whose power will be turned off from Wednesday
  • Check in with your travel agent or airline to confirm the status of your flight
  • Refer to the advice included in our previous update below

Please note:

The British Consulate in Brisbane will be closed on 11-12 January in preparation for evacuations in Brisbane CBD. You are therefore advised to contact the British Consulate-General in Sydney, as per the above instructions.

What is the predicted course of the floodwaters?

The downpour of torrential rains has brought Queensland to a standstill over the past 2 weeks. The large body of water is now heading towards the state capital of Brisbane. The river is expected to peak at about 20 feet above its usual level on Thursday, which will signal the region's biggest flood in 35 years.

Southern Queensland has since been declared a disaster area, following extensive damage throughout the state.

Military helicopters are searching for missing people as part of a widespread government rescue effort. Defence Minister Stephen Smith stated, "Our immediate focus is on the search and rescue effort in the Lockyer valley and Toowoomba" (just west of Brisbane).

Flood-hit Queensland Prepares for Evacuation - Advice For Travellers

Last Updated: 4 January 2011

Summary: As more heavy rain is forecast for the south of Queensland, Australia, the state prepares for evacuation. If you are travelling in the affected areas, please see the advice below.

Advice for affected travellers:

With the onset of evacuations and more rainfall due in the region, those currently in affected areas are advised to:

  • Be aware of and obey any local advice from the authorities as the situation changes daily
  • Stock up on essentials such as food and fuel if you know that you may not have access to transportation due to flooding
  • Check in with the Bureau of Meteorology for updated weather information
  • Register with the FCO's LOCATE service to help them find you in an emergency

Who to contact in case of an emergency:

For updated information, you can also:

Which towns have been affected by the floods?

Over the past few days large areas of Queensland have been covered with floodwaters. Over 20 towns are flooded, with the town of Rockhampton being the worst-hit. Home to 75,000 people, it has become isolated with no airport, rail or road contact with the outside world.

Residents of St George are also taking precautions following a revised flood warning by the weather bureau. Some patients have already been evacuated from the hospital, while more residents will be evacuated from the local nursing home in the next 24 hours.

Government implements a wide-spread rescue operation:

As some areas experience their worst flooding in 50 years, the government has announced natural disaster zones across Queensland state.

So far, an area measuring 850,000 sq km - equivalent in size to France and Germany - has been affected. As more rainfall makes its way towards the region, the Australian military continues to deliver emergency supplies to residents.

The massive rescue operation also includes the use of barges to transport food along the coast, east of Rockhampton, while the Bruce Highway to the north remains open so that trucks can also deliver emergency goods.

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has flown to the towns of Alpha and Jericho, west of Rockhampton, to follow up on the recovery process.

The Bureau of Meteorology predicts further storms on Thursday, 6 January, which could bring between 50 mm and 100 mm of rain.