Cyclone Yasi struck near Mission Beach, south of Cairns, as a catastrophic category 5 system on February 3, 2011, unleashing winds reaching 285km/h. The cyclone’s most severe effects were felt in towns such as Tully, Cardwell, Innisfail, Ingham, and Mission Beach, while the larger cities of Townsville and Cairns were largely spared from the worst damage.
Thanks to an extensive evacuation campaign implemented in the days leading up to the cyclone, only one fatality was reported. Thousands of residents in northern Queensland heeded warnings, opting to evacuate to official centres or departing the area entirely, leading to fully booked flights out of the region. In a coordinated rescue effort, the Australian Defence Force and the Royal Flying Doctor Service were instrumental in evacuating 300 patients from the local hospital to Brisbane and other regional medical facilities.