Nature's fury takes its toll

Larry, a Category Five cyclone, one of the most powerful storms ever to be recorded in Australia, hit land and lashed the coast with winds up to 290km/h. It struck the Queensland coast with devastating force, mauling towns and wiping out crops worth hundreds of millions of dollars while forcing thousands of people to flee its path.

Although, Larry has caused more damage to property than to human lives, emergency services have ushered residents out of its way in a mass evacuation. Though the storm claimed no lives by the time that last reports came in, 30 people had undergone treatment for minor injuries.

The Innisfail region, south of Cairns, bore the brunt of the storm which simply ripped apart roofs from buildings and uprooted trees. While a majority of the buildings in the town of Innisfail were damaged, smaller towns in the region also were pummeled.

As almost all essential services have been cut off and the military has been called upon to provide emergency assistance and shelter. The local airport has been cleared to make way for a tent city.

Queensland Premier, Peter Beattie, clearly caught unawares and stunned by the impact of the storm, said, "The property damage has been immense. We haven't had a cyclone like this for decades, if we've ever had one like it before."

Larry's path was similar to that of the last category five cyclone to cross the coast. The 1918 disaster, which occurred before cyclones were named, killed 37 people in Innisfail and a further 60 people in the surrounding area. The storm damaged 95 per cent of all buildings in Innisfail.

However, the worst may be yet to come. The State Disaster Co-ordination Centre has warned that low-lying areas could face flooding as heavy rainfall continues this week. The residents have been accordingly urged residents to take precautions. The rising waters will also increase the danger posed by venomous snakes and crocodiles.

Heavy rainfall is expected to flood the Tully River as well as coastal rivers between Innisfail and Mackay. Major flooding has been reported at Doomadgee township on the Nicholson River.

The largest monetary loss due to the cyclone is being suffered by the farmers involved with the banana industry. They have reported losses of up to 0 million. The devastating storm has also left as many as 4000 people out of work.

Prime Minister John Howard is expected to visit the region later this week.