Cyclone Yasi: Queensland takes stock of damage

A trail of destruction was emerging across the far north Queensland this morning after the biggest cyclone in living memory came in off the sea at midnight local time.

Cyclone Yasi, a category 5 system, with winds up to 285 kms/hour passed directly over Mission Beach, a small coastal community with a population of about 1,000, 90 miles (160km) south of Cairns.

"I think every house has got some sort of damage," local resident Raymond Bosnich told Australian television. "Garages and garden sheds have been tossed around. There's definitely damage on every property," he said.

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