Devastation At Cyclone Yasi's Ground Zero

THE scene at Cyclone Yasi's  ground zero in Queensland, Australia has been described by one Mission Beach businessman as "apocalyptic".

The manager of the Elandra Resort, David Brook, said the area now looked like "Vietnam (in the war movie) Apocalypse Now".

Trees are down, cars have been swept away, roofs have been torn off and the sand on the beach is gone.

"Nothing's been spared. The devastation is phenomenal, like nothing I've ever experienced," the veteran of at least five cyclones told the ABC.

Police who endured Yasi's fury in the town of Mission Beach that took a direct hit say trees had been reduced to sticks, streets were littered with debris, and some buildings had been damaged.

But conditions are still too dangerous in the wake of the category five monster to allow even a cursory assessment of the damage.

"Around 10pm (AEST) there was this massive roar and we could hear vegetation being shredded to pieces," officer in charge Sergeant Dan Gallagher told AAP about 6am (AEST).

But he said the police station had protected all the officers and a handful of locals who also sought refuge there, including a couple and their 18-month-old baby girl.

"We've been in lockdown since 7pm (on Wednesday). It's still roaring out there but nothing what it was like last night," he said.

"The station is pretty solid and its held up really well.

"I have never been through anything as severe as this but we were all positive and supportive and got each other through this.

"We're happy. We all have a smile on our faces and can say 'we got through this'."

When the eye of the cyclone passed over Mission Beach, bringing almost an hour's reprieve from its winds, put at up to 290km/h (180 mph), the officers did a quick scout of the station grounds.

"Vegetation has been reduced to sticks. A lot of trees are down and one police house was damaged," Sgt Gallagher said.

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