CAIRNS, Australia (AP) — Authorities say a man who asphyxiated while sheltering inside during the massive cyclone that struck Australia this week has become the storm’s first fatality.
The 23-year-old man’s body was found Thursday in a house near the town of Ingham in the area of Queensland state where Cyclone Yasi roared ashore.
Queensland Premier said he died from inhaling fumes from a diesel-powered generator that he was using inside an unventilated room where he was sheltering from the storm, which cut power supplies. The man was not identified.
The storm caused massive damage to several towns on the coast, and officials have expressed surprise there were not more deaths.
