A tropical cyclone that crossed Australia's northwest coast early on Sunday weakened, although several small inland communities were on red alert and the risk of heavy swells, flooding and storm surges remained, Reuters reported. One man was killed after being swept away by floodwaters overnight in southern Queensland, state police said on Sunday. In New South Wales a mini-tornado destroyed several homes while roads were flooded and power cut in several regions. In Tasmania, some 80 wild fires have been burning mostly in the west of the island state since lightening struck on January 13, destroying more than 72,000 hectares of bushland, including 1,000-year-old trees in World Heritage listed forests. In Tasmania's east, communities were warned to brace for further flooding on Sunday as heavy rainfall was forecast.
