Emergency crews beaten back as cyclone lashes Australian coast

A massive cyclone tore off roofs and uprooted trees across Australia’s north-eastern coast today, packing winds so powerful that emergency workers were forced to stay indoors, despite pleas from terrified residents.

Hundreds of tourists and thousands of residents were bunkered inside resort hotels and homes as Tropical Cyclone Larry smashed into the coast about 60 miles south of Cairns with winds of up 180mph and pounding rain.