Cyclone Debbie hits Australia

Townsville (Australia): A powerful cyclone lashed islands, damaged roofs and cut power as it edged toward Australia‘s tropical northeast coast, officials said.

Category 4 cyclone Debbie brought winds gusting to 250 kilometers per hour (155 miles per hour) and torrential rain to the Whitsunday Islands, a popular tourist



destination off the Queensland state coast southeast of the city of Bowen, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology said in a statement.

The eye of the storm was expected to cross the coast later on Tuesday.

Deputy Police Commissioner Stephan Gollschewski said reports of damage were starting to come in.