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Supermarket mayhem as panicked Queenslanders strip shelves bare

Supermarket shelves across the north Queensland coast are being stripped bare as customers battle the downpour to stock up on supplies in the aftermath of ex-cyclone Debbie.

There are reports of full car parks statewide, with every trolley and basket being used by shoppers buying as much as they can carry.

Lengthy queues have been observed as people stock up on ice, bottled water, bread, and milk, leaving little left on shelves.

Long queues are seen at a supermarket as locals seek to replenish supplies when the store opens for the first time since Cyclone Debbie swept through Airlie Beach. Pictures: Dan Peled/AAP
Long queues are seen at a supermarket as locals seek to replenish supplies when the store opens for the first time since Cyclone Debbie swept through Airlie Beach. Pictures: Dan Peled/AAP
Bottled water and milk are big ticket items. Picture: Dan Peled/AAP
Bottled water and milk are big ticket items. Picture: Dan Peled/AAP

Memes are beginning to pop up, ridiculing the "Doomsday" shoppers for their selective purchases.

"Stay calm and eat your milk sandwich," one said.

Even McDonald's drive throughs are reportedly experiencing increased traffic among hungry Queenslanders.

Near empty supermarket shelves are seen across Queensland. Picture: Getty
Near empty supermarket shelves are seen across Queensland. Picture: Getty
Lengthy queues at every checkout as people on the Sunshine Coast stock up on supplies. Picture: Nicole Powell
Lengthy queues at every checkout as people on the Sunshine Coast stock up on supplies. Picture: Nicole Powell

It's a common scene from far north at Townsville and Airlie Beach, south to the Mackay region, and even the Sunshine Coast.

Hundreds of locals and tourists rushed to Airlie Beach's Woolworths as it opened its doors at 8am, for the first time since Debbie hit the coastal town.

There were lengthy queues at every checkout as people bought everything from vegetables to SIM cards and meat for barbecuing.

Adam Spicer and his dad came down early to buy milk, apples, water and toilet paper.

Mr Spicer said they wanted to stock up on essentials because there was no indication of when the power or running water would be turned back on.

"It's sort of like glamorous camping, but with everything smashed up," he said.

Mr Spicer said tiles had blown off their roof and cars had been smashed during Cyclone Debbie's reign on Tuesday.

"It was intense," he said.


Californian tourists Bon Kumsang and Dereck Hagan also visited the Airlie Beach Woolworths to pick up supplies for their families.

Mr Kumsang said there hadn't been any fighting inside the store, but people had started to push in line.

"Yesterday was bad, there were people pushing and arguing in the line for the convenience store," he said.

Shoppers packed this Woolworth store as it opened its doors at 8am Thursday morning. Picture: Debbie Darling/Facebook
Shoppers packed this Woolworth store as it opened its doors at 8am Thursday morning. Picture: Debbie Darling/Facebook
There are reports of full car parks statewide, with every trolley and basket being used by shoppers. Picture: Dan Peled/AAP
There are reports of full car parks statewide, with every trolley and basket being used by shoppers. Picture: Dan Peled/AAP

Airlie Beach remains largely in lockdown as emergency services try to repair fallen power lines and roads following Cyclone Debbie.

Businesses will be unable to reopen until the power is reconnected.

Two restaurants opened for brief periods on Wednesday to cook up meat and seafood that had to be used.

Across the state, Coles supermarkets at Lutwyche, Gladstone, Brisbane CBD, Mermaid Waters, Robina, Arana Hills, Jimboomba and Kenmore remain closed.