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Austrlia to be hit by Cyclone


Guest Klitschko

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Guest Klitschko

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You know your f*cked when the cyclone is a quarter the size of the country

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Australians are bracing themselves for the biggest storm in the country's modern history, with severe winds already leaving tens of thousands of people without electricity.

:: Follow the developing story LIVE on Sky News and online at www.skynews.com/liveplus

:: Watch the latest satellite images of the cyclone from Australia's Bureau of Meteorology

Cyclone Yasi was upgraded to the highest level of storm overnight - a category five, on a par with Hurricane Katrina, which devastated New Orleans in 2005.

There are fears of destruction on a huge scale as it hits the northeast coast of Queensland from about midnight local time (2pm in the UK).

Tens of thousands of people are hunkering down in their homes without electricity as strong winds and heavy rain lash the coast.

There are reports of trees being blown down, window shutters being ripped from walls and houses being flooded.

The massive weather system is 310 miles (500km) across, with the eye alone measuring 100km across. Gusts of almost 190mph (300kmh) are expected.

Tens of thousands of people have fled their homes and more than 10,000 are huddling in emergency evacuation centres in Queensland, which is still reeling from last month's floods.

This image provided by NASA shows Tropical Cyclone Yasi as it approaches Queensland, Australia.

The looming cyclone is set to bring widespread destruction

Mines, rail lines and coal ports have been shut down and officials are warning that even areas well inland could be badly affected.

Because the cyclone coincides with high tide, there are fears it will cause a storm surge of more than 20ft, sweeping a wall of water inland.

Officials have said some 90,000 homes are without electricity, including areas of Cairns, Townsville and Innisfail, and the number is likely to rise over the coming hours.

Queensland premier Anna Bligh said the last cyclone of such strength to cross the state was in 1918 - and Yasi would be "terrifying".

weather presenter isobel lang explains cyclone yasi

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"It's such a big storm - it's a monster, killer storm," she said.

Speaking at a news conference earlier, she said waves had reached record heights in the sea off the coast of Townsville.

The speed of the cyclone had slowed, she said which meant storm surges - and flooding - might not be as bad as previously feared.

But it could also mean high winds lingering in areas for longer.

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