Cyclone Ului Approaches Queensland: Evacuations on Islands

Cyclone Ului Approaches Queensland Forcing Evacuations of Great Barrie Reef Islands

Cyclone Ului, which is currently a category four cyclone approaches Queensland forcing the evacuations of about 300 people from the Great Barrier Reef islands. Cyclone Ului is expected to hit the area some time this weekend.

Residents on Heron Island off Rockhampton and Lady Elliot Island off Gladstone will be evacuated in the next few days and residents are told to be ready.

According to the Rockhampton weather bureau and The Australian the cyclone could produce swells of eight to 10 metres if it remains at the same intensity. Even coastal communities in the southeast of Australia can expect dangerous surf conditions as well.

Julia Cook, the acting police inspector told The Australian that the residents from the two islands will be brought to places to stay on the mainland. The evacuations have to be done early so as to avoid any dangers at sea with any swells as the cyclone nears.

Rockhampton Mayor Brad Carter told The Australian that any cyclone over a category three could be a huge problem: