A powerful cyclone lashed islands, damaged roofs and cut power on Tuesday as it edged toward Australia’s tropical northeast coast, officials said. (AuBC via AP) (Associated Press)TOWNSVILLE, Australia — A powerful cyclone packing winds of up to 260 kilometers (160 miles) per hour roared across Australia’s tropical northeast on Tuesday, uprooting trees, tearing down fences and knocking out power to thousands, officials said. By Tuesday night, it had been downgraded to a Category 2 storm, with wind gusting up to 155 kilometers (95 miles) per hour. One man was injured after a wall collapsed in Proserpine, a town south of Airlie Beach, Queensland Police Commissioner Ian Stewart said. Communities along more than 300 kilometers (190 miles) of coastline were expected to be impacted, Stewart said.

Source: Washington Post March 28, 2017 04:17 UTC