Cyclone Yasi is the most powerful cyclone to have hit the Queensland state. It's now a Category 5 - the highest category on the scale. The eye of the storm is currently expected to last around three hours, with an average wind gust of 160km/h, and highs of 330km/h. I don't have to tell you that that is extraordinarily high.
The cyclone is almost as big as the United States, with the eye being large enough to cover the state of Texas.
I have a friend in Queensland who has had to move beneath her house, as she was told not to evacuate. Others are too late to be evacuated, and the emergency services have said that they are unable to help people in distress as "there is nothing [they] can do". There has already been a call in saying that someone is stranded.
I just wanted to let you all know of the current situation if you haven't heard yet, and that I am thinking of you all in Queensland right now. My thoughts are with you. Good luck.
If you can't access news channels covering the cyclone and want to keep updated, then just search "Cyclone Yasi" on Google News, and you'll get a lot of recent results. The Australian Yahoo site also updates everything regularly. Also, this Youtube channel is trying to provide regular, hourly updates.
Other Websites:
Cyclone Video HQ - Thanks Nicola!
In comparison to Katrina:
All the latest videos of Yasi can be found on the following hub:
ReplyDeletehttp://cyclone.videohq.tv
Scary!
They have people on the ground right now, providing video feeds and feedback from most affected areas.
I hope that's useful.
Oh man! QLD is taking a beating this season! My thoughts are with everyone there.
ReplyDeleteI have family there but they aren't in the worst areas. My thoughts are with Queensland at this time. Nature can be as cruel as it is kind sometimes.
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