SYDNEY, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull visited the worst struck areas of cyclone Debbie on Thursday, and pledged support for the rebuilding efforts after the disaster.
Cyclone Debbie struck the state of Queensland on Tuesday afternoon, causing immense damage, with the brunt of the cyclone hitting the tourism hot-spot islands, Daydream and Hayman.
Turnbull assured those affected that efforts were currently underway to clean up the carnage, including utilising Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel.
Brigadier Christopher Field, head of the ADF's recovery efforts said rapid deployment to the islands to provide support will occur if needed.
This call to arms came as further flash flooding threatens to hamper the recovery effort, and weather conditions kept around 300,000 children from attending school, and employees told to go home.
Turnbull urged Australians to take every necessary precaution to ensure their own safety, warning that although the worst has passed, risk still remains.
"If it's flooded, forget it. Don't walk in, swim in, drive in floodwaters... There is still plenty of risk out there," Turnbull said.
The leader of Australia's opposition, Bill Shorten also addressed reporters, and sent a clear message that the vibrant tourism industry that was hit by the cyclone, is still open for business.
"If you want to help in the medium to longer term, the Whitsunday region is a great place to holiday," Shorten said.
"They will tidy this up, they will be back on their feet."
However, tourism was not the only sector on the agenda, as Turnbull highlighted the fact that the Bowen region in Queensland that he was visiting, heavily dependent on farming, would likely suffer due to the cyclone, and flooding.
The Australian government will provide assistance to cyclone victims via the National Disaster Recovery Assistance fund, which is 75 percent federally funded.
