Thousands of residents fled their homes as the worst cyclone to threaten Australia's Queensland state for decades bore down on the coast.

Tropical Cyclone Larry was expected to hit the north-eastern state early Monday with wind gusts of up to 280 kilometres (175 mph) an hour and storm surges of up to two metres (6.6 feet), the weather bureau said.

http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/03/19/060319124159.3z1os73l.html