Mandatory mass evacuations are in full swing at the Australian north Queensland town of Innisfail, south of Cairns, as a severe cyclone nears Queensland’s north coast, local authorities said on Wednesday.

The eye of Cyclone Yasi, upgraded to a category five cyclone early on Wednesday morning, is expected to cross the coast near Innisfail around 10 p.m. (local time).

Innisfail, the major township of the Cassoary Coast, bore the brunt of devastating Cyclone Larry, a category four when it hit in March 2006.

Cassowary Coast Regional Council Mayor Bill Shannon said residents were well aware Yasi would be worse than Larry.

He said the entire coastline at Innisfail and surrounds are at risk of a tidal storm surge.

Police have been doorknocking hundreds of homes on beach-fronts and nearby low-lying areas since Tuesday.

Shannon said the evacuations were mandatory.

“(People) are told to go to higher ground. This is all about avoiding the tidal surge,” Shannon told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Radio on Wednesday morning.

“People have been co-operating … police are telling people it ‘s mandatory and that’s enough for most people. However, there have been some instances of people saying they are not leaving,” he said.