QLD: Tropical cyclone causes major flooding, evacuations

AAP General News (Australia)
02-12-1999
QLD: Tropical cyclone causes major flooding, evacuations

A category three cyclone which crossed the far north Queensland coast overnight has caused
major flooding, evacuations and power losses.

The weather bureau says Cyclone RONA is now a rain depression and is stationary overland,
west of Port Douglas.

Authorities say there appears to be little building damage and no injuries have been
reported after RONA crossed the coast north of Port Douglas about 11pm yesterday.

But RONA has brought flooding at Cairns Airport which has forced Ansett Australia and
Qantas to cancel and re-schedule flights to and from the city today.

And Queensland Rail services from Innisfail north have been brought to a halt by the
downpour that accompanied RONA.

Emergency volunteers, Cairns City Council and army personnel have been helping to evacuate
up to a thousand people in north Queensland in the face of rising floodwaters caused by RONA.

Residents of the normally cyclone-ready Cairns say RONA took them by surprise, with little
notice of its approach and fights breaking out in supermarkets over emergency supplies.

Emergency supplies including torches and battery-operated radios sold out by lunchtime in
some supermarkets.

AAP RTV lm/cmm

KEYWORD: RONA WRAP (BRISBANE)

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