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BRISBANE - Evacuation centres in Cairns and Townsville will remain in lockdown due to a second, dangerous storm surge in the wake of Cyclone Yasi, Queensland Premier Anna Bligh says.
Ms Bligh said a second storm surge was hitting a number of places about 9.30am AEST (12.30pm NZT) on Thursday, with waves crashing over the esplanade in Cairns and significant water rises in Townsville, Rose Bay and surrounds.
"The second surge in Cairns is being reported by authorities there as significantly higher and larger than what they saw last night," she told reporters.
"So this is still a very dangerous situation in Cairns and Townsville around those storm surge areas.
"For that reason evacuation centres will remain in lockdown until after the high tide has passed and that won't be until later this morning."
Police issued an evacuation order for Cairns' coastal Esplanade about 9am AEST (12pm NZT) due to rising flood waters.
A police statement urged residents across north Queensland not to return to storm surge areas as more flooding was on its way.
Ms Bligh said places inland were also still in the path of danger, and warned people there was no room for complacency.
She said she was pleased there were no reports of fatalities or injuries in north Queensland.
However, she warned authorities had still been unable to access some small and isolated communities.
"So we will certainly be monitoring those very carefully throughout the day," she said.
"... nevertheless we face very extensive and devastating damage in some parts of the north and far north and we continue to see a very dangerous situation in some parts of the region."
Flooding fears
Ms Bligh said there had been extremely heavy rain in a short time as far south as Mackay.
She said major flooding was now a huge concern.
"We are now seeing strong flooding activity in the Tully River through to Giru," she said.
"What that means in places like Ingham they are preparing for at least moderate flooding but if the rainfall keeps at its current rate that could be revised up to heavy and serious flooding in Ingham."
Major flooding is expected in the northern suburbs of Townsville and in areas north of the city, she said.
Heavy flooding is also expected at Giru and in the upper Burdekin region.
A bridge between Townsville and Charters Towers is expected to be cut off by floodwaters on Thursday, Ms Bligh said.
"There is a heavy rain band that is continuing between the north of Townsville right down to Mackay which will bring flooding," Ms Bligh said.
"It may necessitate some evacuations and it may reach dangerous levels in parts."
Ms Bligh said different communities had been affected in different ways.
"Cairns seems to have escaped the worst of this storm."
While roads were covered in debris, powerlines were down, and there were significant power outages, there appeared to be no major damage to infrastructure, she said.
Ms Bligh said the port of Cairns and its airport could be functional within 24 hours.
A second storm surge was sending "quite spectacular" waves over the Cairns esplanade, she said.
The Aboriginal community at Yarrabah, to the south, suffered similar damage.
There are extensive blockages on roads in the Mareeba area of the Atherton Tableland and a couple of houses have lost roofs.
'Sense of despair'
Ms Bligh said many north Queenslanders may feel overwhelmed by the destruction in their communities.
"There are people now who have lost their homes, lost their farms, their crops and lost their livelihoods," Ms Bligh said.
"I have no doubt many will feel a big sense of despair as they walk back into their communities, particularly those only five years ago were (affected) by Cyclone Larry."
But Queensland was right behind them, she said.
"If you are feeling alone can I say you are not alone," Ms Bligh said.
"Just as north Queensland gave all their care, support and help to people here in the south and central part of the state during the floods it's coming right back at you.
"You are about to find people from across Queensland coming into your community to help you rebuild and restore your lives."
She said the priority on Thursday is to get emergency workers on the ground to kick start the recovery.
Ms Bligh said Palm Island had not seen significant damage, although powerlines were down and roofs were damaged.
Infrastructure damage
She said there were early reports of water damage to the water treatment plant in Townsville but what that meant to the water supply still had to be assessed.
She said there would be huge logistical issues on Thursday as some people would not be able to return to their homes.
The premier said 177,000 homes were without power, some because of a transmission break and others because of downed powerlines.
Emergency crews are having to cut their way into communities isolated by Cyclone Yasi, Ms Bligh said.
Towns on the Cassowary coast between Cairns and Townsville took the brunt of the cyclone and massive amounts of debris was blocking roads, she said.
While Queensland was breathing a sigh of relief because no deaths had yet been reported, there were "massive unknowns", the premier said.
"It's not over yet. We can still expect, I think, the possibility of sad and bad news," Ms Bligh said.
"We are out there monitoring and we are out there literally cutting our way into communities to find people who might be unsafe."
Ms Bligh said she was having discussions with Prime Minister Julia Gillard about the most appropriate forms of relief for cyclone victims.
Teams from Centrelink and the Department of Communities were ready to go into affected towns as soon as it was safe.
The Premier's Disaster Relief Appeal, activated for the state's flooding, would also be broadened to a wider appeal to cover the cyclone, she said.
- AAP
