Backpackers Huddle in Room as Cyclone Approaches

A group of backpackers has been forced to stay put in a “cyclone-proof” room at their hostel in Ayr after they were not able to evacuate by bus.

Five buses, with a capacity to carry 46 people per vehicle, were made available at about 7.30am on Monday, March 27, according to Burdekin Shire Council.

“We are in Ayr backpackers Hostel. We couldn’t evacuate because there were no buses available, so we have to stay in one of the rooms that is supposed to be cyclone proof, trying to overcome the long and stressful hours of waiting by getting distracted by playing a quiz game,” Instagrammer @piliaperalta told Storyful on Tuesday.

“We were told it would hit at 9am but the last report we’d got is that it slowed down and now is coming in the afternoon so we have nothing to do but wait.”

Classified as a Category 4 storm, Debbie intensified prior to the revised landfall forecast of “early afternoon” on Tuesday, March 28. Credit: Instagram/piliaperalta via Storyful