Early reports suggest the communities of Mission Beach, where the category five monster made landfall about midnight (AEST), nearby Tully and Innisfail are the worst hit.
But Yasi's fury has been felt hundreds of kilometres away, in Cairns to the north and Townsville to the south, and everywhere in between.
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It's been downgraded to a category four but remains dangerous as it ploughs inland, flattening trees, taking out power and ifting roofs in its wake.
It's expected to hit Georgetown, 400 kilometres from the coast later this morning with damaging winds gusting up to 125 kays an hour.
Other inland towns in the firing line include Charters Towers, Hughenden and Julia Creek, the wild weather extending as far west as Mt Isa on Friday.
