Australia: Floods likely to be greatest threat to life

AUTHORITIES recorded a 30ft wave off Australia's north-east coast yesterday, highlighting what is likely to be the greatest threat to life: surges of water yards above normal high tide levels racing ashore.

More than 400,000 people live in the cyclone's path, including the cities of Cairns, Townsville and Mackay. The entire stretch is popular with tourists, as it includes the Great Barrier Reef. It is also home to major coal and sugar supplies and threatens to inflate the prices of those commodities.