Australia battered by two cyclones

A powerful cyclone has slammed into north-eastern Australia, destroying homes, upending trees, cutting power lines and causing flash floods, while 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, gathering strength in just a few hours before making landfall mid-morning as a category 5 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.