Queensland relief workers fight through cyclone debris

Emergency teams are cutting through fallen trees, wrecked housing and fallen powerlines to reach towns badly hit on Wednesday by Cyclone Yasi.

Officials have appealed for calm while rescuers try to reach residents.

The storm shattered coastal communities while leaving the cities of Cairns and Townsville relatively unscathed.

"It's a war zone," said Deputy Prime Minister Wayne Swan, after a 30-minute tour of the town of Tully.

The one known fatality so far was apparently by suffocation caused by the fumes of the generator the deceased was running in an enclosed space.

"This is a tragic loss of life and again our condolences go to that young man's family and friends," said Queensland State Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts.

Despite the scale of devastation - and high economic costs expected - the low death toll so far has been surprising; Kazinform refers to BBC News.

See www.bbc.co.uk for full story.