Cyclone Debbie: flooding and heavy rain continue to hammer north Queensland – live updates
Australian authorities assess damage from category four cyclone that hit coast between Airlie Beach and Mackay on Tuesday as weather system moves inland bringing heavy rain. Follow all the updates here ... 11.30pm BST Reporter James Reynolds has captured footage of heavy damage at Shute Harbour, south of Airlie Beach. The Shute Harbour motel had sustained serious structural damage. Shute Harbour's boat terminal appeared all but destroyed. Boat terminal at Shute Harbour wrecked by #CycloneDebbie pic.twitter.com/D1DvxbnGZg Heavy damage to motel near Shute Harbour after #cycloneDebbie #Australia #cyclone pic.twitter.com/lVrfdwHJRL 11.27pm BST Heavy rainfall is causing major flooding across the region. The Bureau of Meteorology's James Taylor said the heaviest rainfall was about 940mm, recorded in a location north of the Pioneer River, which runs south-west of Mackay. The rainfall had caused major flooding of the river. Moderate flooding is also expected in other regions between Bowen and Mackay. Taylor said waves in excess of eight metres were recorded on buoys off the north Queensland coast. Cyclone Debbie caused a storm surge, he said, but the timing, at low tide, limited its scale. Continue reading...