Yasi nears Queensland coast

Australia is bracing itself for the most powerful cyclone in its history - Cyclone Yasi - which is roaring towards the Queensland coastline and is expected to make contact in a few hours.

Thousands of Australians have already been evacuated from their homes.

The category 5 storm, which if it continues with its current strength when it reaches Australia’s coast will be the strongest cyclone to hit Queensland since 1899, will hit on Wednesday night local time (after 12:00GMT) said the Australian Bureau of Meteorology.

Cyclone Yasi is now within hours of hitting landfall in northern Queensland and seems to be heading for densely populated areas: Cairns, Townsville and Mackay, home to more than 400,000 people.

There are fears that even so-called “cyclone proof” homes could be blown apart by winds and shelters are filling fast. There have even been reports of police turning panicked people away from shelters, which are already full.

Winds are expected to reach 300km (186 miles) per hour.

"We are facing a storm of catastrophic proportions," Queensland state premier Anna Bligh said.

Satellite images show Cyclone Yasi covering an area bigger than Italy or New Zealand and the timing – just after high tide - also brings the possibility of 6.5 feet (two meters) storm surges that could flood significant areas along the coast.

"This impact is likely to be more life-threatening than any experienced during recent generations," the Bureau of Meteorology said.

"What it all adds up to is a very frightening time," state premier Bligh said.

"We're looking at 24 hours of quite terrifying winds, torrential rain, likely loss of electricity and mobile phones. People really need to be preparing mentally if nothing else."

Thousands of Queensland residents as well as tourists have taken shelter in evacuation centres and makeshift shelters.

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