The destructive core of a massive cyclone battered Australia's northeastern coast early Thursday, wrenching roofs off buildings and cutting power to tens of thousands of homes, AP reported. Australian officials have warned that Cyclone Yasi was expected to cause substantial damage and probably some deaths, though they would have little idea of the scale of the disaster until the worst had passed. The storm was packing winds up to 186 mph (300 kph) and will take several hours to blow through any given area. The storm will compound misery in Queensland, which has already been hit by months of flooding that killed 35 people and inundated hundreds of communities. Yasi hit north of the main waterlogged area, but emergency services across the state are already stretched. The Bureau of Meteorology said in a statement that the storm's «large and destructive core» has started crossing the coast near the small town of Mission Beach in northern Queensland state. Dozens of other cities and towns were being whipped by winds that forecaster said could gust up to 186 mph (300 kph). -- SPA
