Sketches of the damage of Cyclone Sigma on Townsville, 1896

Cyclone Sigma was a

tropical cyclone A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system characterized by a low-pressure center, a closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain and squalls. Depend ...

that caused severe damage in

North Queensland North Queensland or the Northern Region is the northern part of the Australian state of Queensland that lies just south of Far North Queensland. Queensland is a massive state, larger than many countries, and its tropical northern part has been ...

, Australia on 26–27 January 1896 and the loss of at least 23 lives. The cyclone caused massive destruction to

Townsville Townsville is a city on the north-eastern coast of Queensland, Australia. With a population of 180,820 as of June 2018, it is the largest settlement in North Queensland; it is unofficially considered its capital. Estimated resident population, 3 ...

and surrounding areas. The cyclone passed to the north-east of the town, creating high seas and dumping up to of rain in the area. The Ross River broke its banks, flooding of the town's suburbs with up to of water. Ten ships were wrecked in the harbour, 17 people died in the flooding, and one sailor was also killed. The cyclone then travelled south towards

Rockhampton Rockhampton is a city in the Rockhampton Region of Central Queensland, Australia. The population of Rockhampton in June 2021 was 79,967, Estimated resident population, 30 June 2018. making it the fourth-largest city in the state outside of the ...

, creating heavy rainfall. At least 23 people died in the cyclone, with three reported as missing. It was thought that ketch ''Lalla Rookh'' was wrecked during the cycolone; however, later reports confirmed that she had escaped. Many buildings were destroyed or badly damaged, including: * Townsville School of Arts * Tattersalls Hotel * Townsville Showground * Townsville Supreme Court * St John's Anglican Church * Cluden Racecourse and railway station

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1896 in Australia 1896 natural disasters

Sigma Sigma (; uppercase Σ, lowercase σ, lowercase in word-final position ς; grc-gre, σίγμα) is the eighteenth letter of the Greek alphabet. In the system of Greek numerals, it has a value of 200. In general mathematics, uppercase Σ is used as ...

Disasters in Queensland North Queensland {{Tropical-cyclone-stub

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