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With little warning, on 22 January a severe Category 4 cyclone produced a storm surge (estimated at 3.7m) & partly submerged the city & surrounding countryside. The intruding sea-water flowed inland in waves, carrying debris 5km from the shoreline. At least 30 people were killed, about half that number being drowned. Few of the 1,400 homes in Mackay were left unscathed with many destroyed by the effects of high winds & high turbulent water levels. Buildings had their roofs torn off, plate glass windows smashed, foundations scoured. The situation was worsened by a major flood in the Pioneer River, with 24 hour rainfalls in excess of 600mm. The flood level only exceeded by the February, 1958, flood (see ID 5559) . The Pioneer River had huge waves which caused havoc with shipping. Vessels sank or ran aground. Two spans of the Sydney Street bridge collapsed. The sugarcane crop was decimated and all sugar mills severely damaged. The pressure in the cyclone's eye was a low 933 hPa with estimated peak wind gusts 200-250km/h. The storm surge almost coincided with the normal daily high tide - the resultant storm tide was the highest ever observed in Mackay. The water level exceeded high water mark by nearly 2m.
Sunday Mail (Qld) news source date-31/01/1999 and other sources as noted.
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