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Cyclone Yasi: Preparations Hundreds of lives saved

A combination of luck and good planning've Been Credited with saving the lives of Thousands of people in the path of Tropical Cyclone Yasi s, which slammed Into the Queensland coast early on Thursday morning whipping up winds of 180mph and waves of up to 30ft.

Are Fallen trees seen laying on Their side after the passing of Cyclone Yasi Photo: GETTY

6:00 a.m. GMT February 3, 2011 An Estimated

400.000 people live in the region hit by the category five "monster" cyclone, pero as day broke over a wet and battered 190-mile stretch of north Queensland, police Said There Had not Been reports of Deaths or Serious Injuries During The "terrifying" night. The massive cyclone

s, which hit at midnight (2:00 a.m. GMT) Population missed major centers of Cairns and Townsville, making landfall at the Small Coastal Communities of Mission Beach, Cardwell and Tully. Authorities

Said That The Damage at the cyclone's "ground zero" WAS extensive, with Hundreds of properties Destroyed and Hundreds more uninhabitable. The area WAS Also under Threat from inundation from large storm surges in the wake of the cyclone. But Neil Roberts, the Queensland Emergency Services Minister, Acknowledged That Could Have Been the outcome much worse.

"People have listened to the advice and taken the Appropriate actions to relocate." I said.

"The Potential Was There [fSignificant or loss of life], this WAS the worst cyclone has Experienced this country for 100 years.

"But due to good planning and a good response by disaster management groups and locals Councils We Have Been Able to keep everyone safe."

However, Mr Roberts caution That Were police and emergency services still searching the worst hit areas and not could rule out the Possibility of Finding Casualties.

Anna Bligh, the state 'premier, Said She Was surprised and deeply Relieved That He Had Not storm causing "catastrophic" damage, But Said It Was That too soon to declare the region had "dodged a bullet" Because You Were Still Dangerous Conditions .

She Said That in some place 90 per cent of homes Had Suffered Serious structural \