Powerful Cyclone Ilsa lashes Australia’s north-west coast

Cyclone Ilsa approaches Australia’s west coast (National Institute of Information and Communications Technology/AP)

Australia’s most powerful tropical cyclone in eight years lashed the country’s sparsely populated north-west coast with winds gusting to 180 mph on Friday, but was weakening fast and no injuries were reported.

Cyclone Ilsa crossed the Pilbara coast of Western Australia state as the most severe Category 5 storm, but weakened to a Category 2 as it moved inland, Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology said.