Cyclone Yasi is the largest storm in the south Pacific this year, and it is slowly moving towards Queensland, Australia. Queensland authorities have started to evacuate the areas near the coast and regions from where Yasi is forecast to pass. The storm has successfully made landfall and has dumped 500mm of rain in the region, with wind speeds recorded at 300kmph.

Mining in the region too has been disrupted and in addition to this crops have been destroyed completely as Yasi moved over the region. Trees and other structures have been destroyed, plus 180,000 homes are witnessing power cuts. As per the authorities, the cyclone destruction was severe but not massive or catastrophic.

Two people have been reported to be missing in the region, but there are still no reports of deaths or injuries. The country will see a rise in the price of sugar and bananas, as they are grown on a major basis in Queensland. The region has been consistently rattled with floods and now with the current cyclone Yasi.

North Australia is now bracing itself to come face to face against a massive cyclone Yasi which is approaching the southern continent. Queensland has still not evolved out of it flood stricken chaos, as there was massive property and human loss in the region. The cyclone will bring heavy rain along with it and it is scheduled to slam Australia this week.

Cyclone Yasi has formed in the Northern hemisphere of Australia, and has wind speeds of 250 kmph. The gale produced by the winds of Yasi can be compared with Hurricane Katrina, this has alerted the entire region, as it can create massive damage and human loss if it is struck with full force.

Queensland accounts to almost one fifth of Australia’s economy and more than 90% of the revenue comes from steel making coal. Coal mines have been affected by the floods which has also affected the export consignments from the country. It is certain, Yasi will cause massive damage in the country but the government has taken protective measures against it.

The cyclone Laila, which was predicted to hit hard on the coasts of Andhra and Tamil Nadu, has now started to weaken considerably after it entered a ‘well marked low pressure area’ just north of the coast of Andhra Pradesh.

But now there is a threat that the relieving storm will lash heavy rains in the areas of Srikakulam, Vishakapatnam, Vizianagaram, Khammam and Warangal.

The Chief Secretary of the Deccan Herald stated that Laila is officially posing no threat to Andhra Pradesh, but there is a possibility that the storm may re-emerge in the north of Bay of Bengal. The state government has stated that the death toll due to the cyclone is 23. As the news of the cyclone came to the 71,000 people who had been dissipated due to the threat of the storm, most of them decided to go back to their homes.

The Chief Minister of the State addressed the collectors of the coastal areas to be on high alert, and to pay more attention on relief and medical facilities. He has even asked the official to start assessing the damage after the cyclone had passed away.