Innisfail devastated
Police say more than half of the homes in Innisfail were destroyed when cyclone Larry struck far north Queensland this morning.
Many are homeless and thousands have been left without power or water.
Frank Pagano from the Counter-Disaster and Rescue Service, says back-up crews are still trying to reach Innisfail with fallen trees blocking the road in both directions.
But he says local emergency workers say the town has been devastated.
"If we work on the numbers that at least half of the residents within Innisfail affected and Babinda and there are coastal communities extending from Cardwell north, I'm sure it's going to be tens of millions of dollars," he said.
The defence force has set up large tents at the Innisfail airport to house the large number of people left homeless in the wake of Cyclone Larry.
The Johnstone Shire Mayor Neil Clarke says it is impossible to tell just how many people are in need of shelter, but he is guessing the number will be in the thousands.
He says the airport has now been cleared of debris.
"We will certainly have to do that because lots of people have no homes that aren't livable," he said.
Cairns police Acting Inspector Mike Keating says it is a "horrendous sight'' with houses reduced to rubble.
He says residents on the Atherton Tablelands are also suffering.
"They are without power and that means they don't have water or sewerage," he said.
Emergency services say they are amazed at the small number of casualties, with only minor injuries reported.
Power and phones out
More than 120,000 homes are without electricity in the far north.
Ergon Energy's Gaylene Whenmouth says it could take several days to restore supplies.
Kilometres of powerlines are down, major highways are blocked, and several buildings have been damaged.
Additionally, Telstra says 1,200 customers in the far-north are without phone services.
Spokeswoman Julianne Taylor says extra repair crews will be sent from Brisbane to help cope with the workload.
"We've got a transportable mobile base station that's en route to the areas where there's need at the moment to help with communications," she said.
"We've also got a team of technicians on stand-by in Brisbane to travel up to those effected areas once we get the all clear from the emergency services."
A flood warning from Innisfail to Townsville remains in force.
Assistance
The Federal Government says it has activated arrangements to coordinate national assistance for the victims of cyclone Larry.
Defence Minister Brendan Nelson says Emergency Management Australia will be organising an aerial survey of the damage caused and transportation will be provided for a medical team from Townsville Hospital to Innisfail.
"Already on stand-by is a navy sea hawk helicopter," he said.
"We've also got three black hawk helicopters standing by in the area to allow for these and other tasks to be done once the weather is sufficiently safe for us to get them up in the air."
Uit ABC Australia, 20-3
