Two cyclones threaten flood-ravaged Queensland
January 29, 2011 (AAP) – Queenslanders are being urged to prepare for the worst as two powerful cyclones threaten to batter the flood-ravaged state.
Tropical Cyclone Anthony is hovering off the Australian eastern seaboard, with authorities warning it will increase in intensity and hit landfall as early as Sunday afternoon, local time. It’s feared a second cyclone, named Yasi, will develop from an intense tropical low currently near Fiji. Deputy Police Commissioner Ian Stewart, who was re-appointed as Queensland’s state disaster co-ordinator on Friday, said modelling indicated the low may develop into a cyclone and could hit Queensland on Thursday or Friday. “And that system is quite powerful and large already so we are concerned that Queensland may be impacted by these two weather events only days apart,” Mr Stewart said on Friday night. … “I am hopeful that neither of these events will have a major impact on our state,” Mr Stewart added. “But obviously our job is to plan for the worst and hope for the best.” The warning comes as Queensland begins its slow recovery from devastating floods, which struck in mid-January and killed at least 22 people. On Friday, Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said Cyclone Yasi could be the more damaging of the two and may heap more misery on the state. “The second event is likely to be much more serious, with significantly more rainfall and high winds attached to it,” she said. “The events could be as serious, if not more serious, than what we have seen in the last few weeks.” …
