Videos: Deadly Cyclone Debbie strikes northeast Australia
Digital Reporter
Wednesday, March 29, 2017, 6:42 AM - A powerful cyclone that made landfall in Queensland, Australia early Tuesday has been declared the worst storm to hit the state since 2011. With one fatality already reported, officials fear there may be more to come.
"We are going to get lots of reports of damage," Ian Stewart, commissioner of the Queensland Police, told reporters. "Sadly, I think that we will also receive more reports of injuries, if not death."
CYCLONE DEBBIE: Significant damage feared as devastating cyclone strikes.
With winds gusting above 260 kilometres per hour, the storm was a Category 4 when its core made landfall -- one notch below the most dangerous wind speeds, Reuters reports. Though the storm is no longer a cyclone, tens of thousands remain without power as severe weather continues.
Videos of the storm began to pour in on social media early Tuesday local time. Here's an on-the-ground look at the storm from locals in its midst.
The forest behind the hotel getting an absolute beating from #CycloneDebbie a little earlier in Airlie Beach pic.twitter.com/czxtaessc8
— James Reynolds (@EarthUncutTV) March 28, 2017
With the eye approaching the gusts are increasing. #CycloneDebbie #HamiltonIsland pic.twitter.com/7XTGGO8Tut
— sfdansmith (@sfdansmith) March 28, 2017
#CycloneDebbie rips off roofs & trees, forces mass evacuations in #Australia (VIDEOS) https://t.co/dILnqV3udJpic.twitter.com/kIViYfbYPz
— RT (@RT_com) March 28, 2017
Yacht broken loose heading towards Shute Harbour. Footage taken inside #hamiltonisland #cyclonedebbie pic.twitter.com/GzGAIONAc9
— Elisa Clements (@clements_elisa) March 28, 2017
Footage of #CycloneDebbie from Hayman Island. We have been in the eye for nearly 1.75 hrs now. Eerily calm outside pic.twitter.com/SiBaZyF2u9
— Joe Hanna (@joehanna_) March 28, 2017
Violent damaging gusts regularly hitting Airlie Beach now as #Cyclonedebbie edges ever closer #cyclone #Australia pic.twitter.com/hk2YNU20B8
— James Reynolds (@EarthUncutTV) March 28, 2017
Hang in there little guy #CycloneDebbie @Ch7Queensland pic.twitter.com/1S4AwQnOoT
— Alexis Kolsky (@AlexisKolsky) March 27, 2017