In Australia, coastal areas in northeast were battered by high winds and heavy rainfall today as a powerful cyclone, which prompted authorities to urge some 30,000 people to evacuate, hit island resorts along the Great Barrier Reef. Cyclone Debbie was upgraded overnight to a category four storm, just one rung below the most dangerous wind speed level. <br/><br/>Authorities warned it could reach level five by the time it makes landfall around 2pm local time. Wind gusts of more than 220 kilometers per hour lashed resorts in the Whitsunday Islands, where tourists waited out the storm in hotel rooms. However, as winds cut power to about 23,000 people, emergency response crews were also hunkered down until the storm blew over.<br/><br/>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. BHP Billiton and Glencore halted work at their coal mines in the storm's path. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull earlier urged residents to leave home immediately, adding that people should seek shelter on higher ground.

In Australia, coastal areas in northeast were battered by high winds and heavy rainfall today as a powerful cyclone, which prompted authorities to urge some 30,000 people to evacuate, hit island resorts along the Great Barrier Reef. Cyclone Debbie was upgraded overnight to a category four storm, just one rung below the most dangerous wind speed level. <br/><br/>Authorities warned it could reach level five by the time it makes landfall around 2pm local time. Wind gusts of more than 220 kilometers per hour lashed resorts in the Whitsunday Islands, where tourists waited out the storm in hotel rooms. However, as winds cut power to about 23,000 people, emergency response crews were also hunkered down until the storm blew over.<br/><br/>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. BHP Billiton and Glencore halted work at their coal mines in the storm's path. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull earlier urged residents to leave home immediately, adding that people should seek shelter on higher ground.