Destruction as massive cyclones hit Australia

Two powerful cyclones pounded Australia Friday, leaving a trail of destruction with houses ripped apart, trees uprooted and electricity cut to thousands of people, but authorities expressed relief there were no fatalities. Tropical Cyclone Marcia, a top-rating category five storm, slammed into the Queensland coast just after 2200 GMT Thursday with its landfall coming just hours after Cyclone Lam hit further north. The category four Lam caused extensive damage to remote Aboriginal communities near Elcho Island, some 500 kilometres (310 miles) east of the Northern Territory capital Darwin, including Milingimbi, Ramingining, and Gapuwiyak. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said while there had been "a lot of structural damage" in the towns of Yeppoon and Rockhampton as the storm passed through, "thankfully to date there is no loss of life".

Continue reading...