What was the worst cyclone in history?

Answer 1

There have been frequent cyclones since records have been kept, since about the 1890s. Some of the largest, in terms of death or destruction, include Cyclone Mahina (1899), Cyclone Tracy (1974) and Cyclone Larry (2006).

In February 2011, the north coast of Queensland was threatened by Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi, which was a category 5 cyclone and predicted to be the most destructive to ever hit Australia. However, whilst Yasi was very destructive to numerous towns and properties, it did not reach anywhere near the dire predictions forecast.

Answer 2

• The deadliest cyclone in Australian history was Cyclone Mahina, which hit Bathurst Bay (in far north Queensland) in March 1899. 400 people were killed.
• Cyclone Wanda hit north of Brisbane in January 1974. While it didn't cause a great deal of wind damage, the rain deluge it dumped on the Brisbane River catchment helped cause the devastating 1974 Brisbane floods.
• Cyclone Tracy hit Darwin on Christmas Eve, 1974, and lasted till Christmas Day, killing 71 people.
• Cyclone Larry developed in the Coral Sea, making landfall off far north Queensland near Innisfail in March 2006. Whilst just one person died, tremendous damage was done to the area, and to Australia's tropical fruit industry.
• Cyclone Yasi, which hit northern Queensland in January 2011, was touted to be a super-cyclone. While it caused significant flooding and resultant damage in the Cairns/Townsville area, the devastation was not as bad as originally anticipated.

Answer 3

Hurricane Katrina
Cyclone Darren in Madagascar wiped out 125,000 people in the first hour. It had lasted for 2 days and was so deadly worldwide air support was needed. Sadly many people died as it is rare for them to be in that area.It started at 2pm friday the 25th and finished 5pm on the saturday.

Answer 4

Cyclone Tracy is arguably the most destructive cyclone in Australia, as it virtually wiped out the city of Darwin.

However, the cyclone which caused the highest death toll to date was Cyclone Mahina. Mahina was a category 5 cyclone which hit north Queensland on 4 March 1899. A fleet of around 100 pearling vessels was hit as it lay at anchor at Bathurst Bay. Boats were driven onto the shore or the Great Barrier Reef, killing 307 people in one fell swoop. A storm surge caused a tidal wave of about 13 - 15 metres high, which swept inland for a distance of about 5 kilometres, devastating any remnants of the Bathurst Bay pearling fleet, along with the settlement. The final death toll of between 400 and 410 included at least 100 indigenous Australians, some of whom died when they were caught by the back surge and swept into the sea while trying to help shipwrecked men.

Answer 5

Cyclone Tracy is arguably the most destructive cyclone in Australia, as it virtually wiped out the city of Darwin. It hit on December 24 and 25 (Christmas Day) 1974.

However, the cyclone which caused the highest death toll was Cyclone Mahina. Mahina was a category 5 cyclone which hit north Queensland on 4 March 1899. A fleet of around 100 pearling vessels was hit as it lay at anchor at Bathurst Bay. Boats were driven onto the shore or the Great Barrier Reef, killing 307 people in one fell swoop. A storm surge caused a tidal wave of about 13 - 15 metres high, which swept inland for a distance of about 5 kilometres, devastating any remnants of the Bathurst Bay pearling fleet, along with the settlement. The final death toll of between 400 and 410 included at least 100 indigenous Australians, some of whom died when they were caught by the back surge and swept into the sea while trying to help shipwrecked men.

Answer 6

The worst cyclone to hit Australia was Cyclone Mahina. It hit north Queensland on 4 March 1899. A category 5 cyclone, it resulted in the greatest death toll of any natural disaster in Australia.

Australia's second worst cyclone was Cyclone Tracy, which hit Darwin on 25 December 1974, officially killed 71 people and destroyed 9,000 homes.

Answer 7

The northwest coast of Western Australia is one of the most cyclone-prone areas in Australia. Probably the worst cyclone to hit the region occurred on 22 April 1887 (before cyclones were named), and its most devastated target was a pearling fleet. Thirteen vessels were destroyed and 140 people killed.

Answer 8

The worst cyclone to hit Australia was Cyclone Mahina. It hit north Queensland on 4 March 1899. A category 5 cyclone, it resulted in the greatest death toll of any natural disaster in Australia.

Australia's second worst cyclone was Cyclone Tracy, which officially killed 71 people and destroyed 9,000 homes.

Answer 9

The worst cyclone on record was the Bhola Cyclone, which struck Bangladesh and western India in 1970, killing at least 300,000 people.