Qld: Cyclone Monica loses intensity

AAP General News (Australia)
04-20-2006
Qld: Cyclone Monica loses intensity

BRISBANE, April 19 AAP - Cyclone Monica lost intensity early today as it roared across
far north Queensland and the threat of mass evacuations eased slightly despite widespread
flooding.

As a category three cyclone, Monica made landfall about 2pm (AEST) yesterday just south
of Lockhart River on Cape York, causing damage to about 15 per cent of homes and destroying
large amounts of vegetation.

But by 2am (AEST) today, Monica had been downgraded to category two, although it was
still packing winds of up to 130 kph.

At that time, Monica was reported to be about 60 kilometres south east of Aurukun -
one of the larger communities in Cape York with a population of about 1,200 - and was
moving south east at 20 kph.

Late yesterday, the greater worry had been the torrential rain Monica dumped on Cairns,
some 800 km south of the remote Lockhart River Aboriginal community.

Cairns' main water supply dam, Copperlode, rose rapidly to 1.6m over the spillway by
early evening.

It was feared at the time that more than 1,000 people would probably need to be evacuated
from hundreds of homes if it reached the "critical" two metre mark.

At 4am (AEST) today, Queensland's Counter Disaster and Rescue Services reported that
the water level appeared to have stabilised, dropping slightly to 1.5m.

"Localised flooding may occur in the area, but no evacuations have yet been necessary
in Cairns," said a spokesman.

"But inundation is likely in outlying areas to the north, at Holloway Beach, Yorkeys
Knob and Machans Beach."

The Captain Cook Highway between the Barron River Bridge and Smithfield, north of Cairns,
was expected to be cut.

All trips to the Great Barrier Reef were abandoned yesterday and flights in and out
of Cairns cancelled.

The Kuranda Railway, a popular tourist train which winds through World Heritage protected
tropical rainforest, was halted because of a landslide along the line.

Cyclone Monica hit the far north Queensland coast almost exactly a month after maximum
category five Cyclone Larry tore through the Innisfail region on March 20, causing widespread
devastation.

AAP rm/cjh/sd/it/evt

KEYWORD: MONICA DAYLEAD

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