Tens of thousands take shelter as twin cyclones slam into northern Australia

A powerful cyclone slammed into northeast Australia on Friday, destroying homes, upending trees, cutting power lines and causing flash floods, while a second storm severed communications to a northern island where heavy damage was expected.

Tens of thousands took what shelter they could as Cyclone Marcia caught Queensland state almost unawares, gathering strength in just a few hours before making landfall midmorning as a category 5 system – the highest rating.

Emergency services scrambled to evacuate thousands of homes in the direct path of Marcia before pulling out and warning anyone who had not left to barricade themselves inside to avoid wind gusts peaking at 285km/h.

Rail lines to coastal ports, an essential part of Queensland’s A$280 billion (US$218 billion) commodities export-driven economy, were brought to a standstill.

“Stay indoors, take the safest room in the home and let the storm pass,” Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Assistant Commissioner John Watson told media after the storm passed over the coastal city of Rockhampton, home to 75,000 people, and headed south towards Australia’s third-largest city, Brisbane.