Thousands of residents have fled their homes in Australia as the worst cyclone to threaten Queensland for decades heads towards the state's coast.
Tropical Cyclone Larry is expected to hit the northeastern state early tomorrow morning, with wind gusts of up to 280km an hour and storm surges of up to two metres.
Mandatory evacuations were enforced in several coastal areas including holiday resorts in the path of the cyclone.
Queensland Premier Peter Beattie has declared a disaster situation, giving authorities the legal power to forcibly remove any reluctant evacuees as the 80km-wide stormfront headed for land.
Major airlines have cancelled all flights into the city of Cairns, while shelters for evacuees have been set up in inland towns.
On Christmas Day 1974, category four Cyclone Tracy hit the northern Australian city of Darwin, killing 49 people and another 16 at sea. Some 70% of Darwin’s homes were destroyed or severely damaged.
