Northeast Australia in grip of Cyclone Debbie

Howling winds, heavy rain and huge seas pounded Australia's northeast on Tuesday, damaging homes and cutting power to thousands of people as Tropical Cyclone Debbie tore through Queensland state's far north.

With winds of up to 280 km/h, Cyclone Debbie has been downgraded from a category-four to a category-three storm as it moves south-west.

It’s now estimated to be 45km south-east of Bowen and 10km north-west of Proserpine with weather forecasters saying that the cyclone conditions could persist for as long as 24 hours.

One man has been reported to be in hospital after being seriously injured by a collapsing wall in Proserpine.

Authorities had urged thousands of people in low-lying areas to flee their homes on Monday, in what would be the biggest evacuation seen in Australia since Cyclone Tracy devastated the northern city of Darwin on Christmas Day, 1974.

Cyclone Debbie made landfall at Airlie Beach shortly after midday local time (3:00 CET), knocking out telephone services.

Torrential rain flooded streets and wind smashed windows, uprooted trees and tossed debris through streets, while jetties at Airlie Beach marina were wrecked, pictures broadcast on Nine Network television showed.

Power was cut for 38,000 people in a wide area between the towns of Bowen and Mackay, north and south of Airlie Beach, utility Ergon Energy said.

Ports at Abbot Point, Mackay and Hay Point were shut, Townsville airport was closed and airlines Qantas, Jetstar, Rex and Virgin Australia cancelled several flights to and from the region.

The Insurance Council of Australia has declared a catastrophe in the region, triggering emergency measures for dealing with the large number of expected insurance claims.