Cyclone Larry leaves 70,000 homeless

TROOPS began delivering aid yesterday to an estimated 7,000 people who lost their homes to the cyclone that battered Australia's northeastern coast.

No one was killed when Category Five Cyclone Larry came ashore early Monday near Innisfail, the town of 8,500 that bore the brunt of the storm. Only minor injuries were reported.

But the storm flooded streets, tore roofs off homes and flattened sugar and banana plantations.

"There most certainly would be around 7,000 people ... that are effectively homeless," federal lawmaker Bob Katter said. "They're sitting in four walls but no roof."

Mr Katter spoke after attending a barbecue for hundreds of victims using meat from butchers that otherwise would soon start rotting. The storm left the town without power and water and officials said it could be days before they were restored.

Rosarie Cullinane, a 24-year-old from Cork had been working at a local hostel for six weeks before the cyclone struck, organising work at local plantations for fellow travellers.

She said she and other backpackers spent Monday night huddled in their hostel wrapped in mattresses to protect them from the danger of flying broken glass.

"I never expected anything like this," she said. "I did hear about cyclones but I didn't think it was going to be that bad."

None of the travellers was injured, but they were leaving town yesterday - their prospects for work evaporated when Larry flattened the town's banana plantations.

US President George W Bush called Australian Prime Minister yesterday to offer American help if needed.

"Of course we are able ourselves to look after this," Mr Howard said. "But it was a very generous, thoughtful gesture on his part and I thank him for it."

About 170 troops were helping to deliver aid, while cleanup and special search and rescue crews were also heading to the town. Churches and community groups were setting up temporary accommodations.

Among supplies flowing in were nearly 10,500 gallons of water and 6,000 in-flight meals provided by the airline Qantas.

Innisfail's main street was littered with rubble from badly damaged buildings and the corrugated metal used for roofing in the region.

The storm wiped out about 10% of Australia's sugar crop, and would likely cost the industry $144 million (€85m) in losses, industry officials estimated.

Banana farmers were hit just as hard. The Australian Banana Growers Council estimated revenue losses of $253m (€150m) and 4,000 jobs gone this season.

"The whole bloody place is blown apart ... this is going to be a long, slow recovery," Queensland Premier Peter Beattie said after visiting the town.

Police also sent extra officers to the region.

"We're mindful that looting is a possibility and we have the resources if we need to deal with it," Superintendent Mike Keating said.

Mr Howard pledged aid to the shattered communities and said he would visit them yesterday.

Meanwhile, weather forecasters warned that another cyclone, named Wati, was moving toward the Queensland coast south of where Larry struck. But the storm was currently much weaker than Larry and may yet change direction.

Innisfail is 100 kilometres south of Cairns, a popular jumping-off point for the Great Barrier Reef.

Reporters who flew into Innisfail yesterday saw scenes of devastation - rainforest shredded by the winds, acres of sugar and banana plantations flattened, the trees and cane on the ground next to their stumps, pointing in the direction that the cyclone tore past.

"It looks like it's just been napalmed," said helicopter pilot Ian Harris.

An apartment block with its roof torn off looked from the air like a doll's house.

Neil Clarke, mayor of Johnstone Shire which includes Innisfail, compared the devastation to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

The storm's casualty toll was so low because people left town or went to shelters after authorities posted warnings. Residents were mindful of the damage Hurricane Katrina did to New Orleans and Mississippi last August, said Ben Creagh, an emergency services spokesman for Queensland.