A powerful cyclone has hit northeast Australia, destroying homes, upending trees, cutting power lines and causing flash floods.
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.
The cyclone gathered strength in just a few hours before making landfall mid-morning as a category five system - the highest rating.
Emergency services scrambled to evacuate thousands of homes 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 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 said.
The storm passed over the coastal city of Rockhampton, home to 75,000 people, and headed south towards Australia's third-largest city, Brisbane.
Residents sth of Bundaberg take shelter as #TCMarcia approaches. Cat 1 storm to bring strong winds and heavy rainfall http://t.co/ETr4blYrAs
— Qld Fire & Emergency (@QldFES) February 20, 2015
There were no reports of deaths or injuries and the storm was downgraded to a category two by evening.
But authorities warned heavy rains and flooding were likely to continue for several days and extend inland.
About 48,000 homes were left without power, Mr Watson added, while broken power lines and flooding meant some areas were too dangerous for energy companies to begin repairs.
The storm roared over the coastal town of Yeppoon which, like Rockhampton, was facing a night without power.
More than 10% of Australia's sugar crop was at risk from Marcia, an industry body warned.
Emergency service officials in the neighbouring Northern Territory were beginning to assess the damage caused by Cyclone Lam that made landfall in the remote region east of Darwin.
The category four storm hit near the settlement of Ramingining, where residents were beginning to emerge to inspect the damage.
Communications had been cut with tiny Elcho Island, which was believed to have experienced widespread damage, police said.
By evening, Lam had been downgraded to a tropical low but continued to dump heavy rain across the north as it moved southwest.
