Australia Cyclone Yasi roars into Queensland coast

Cyclone Yasi, a category five storm, the most severe level, is expected to make landfall shortly.

It will hit between Innisfail and Cairns, where trees are swaying and power cuts have been reported.

Queensland residents have been told it is now too late to escape and that they should take shelter.

"The time for movement and evacuation has now passed," State Premier Anna Bligh said, adding that Yasi would be "the most catastrophic storm to ever hit our coast".

"People should be sheltering wherever they are."

Prime Minister Julia Gillard described the storm as a "cyclone of savagery and intensity".

"People are facing some really dreadful hours in front of them," she said.

The state disaster co-ordinator warned residents they would be on their own for up to 24 hours when Yasi strikes.

Many fear this could be worse than Cyclone Tracy, which hit Darwin on Christmas Eve in 1974 and killed 71 people.

That was a category four storm.

The cyclone follows the worst floods in the state's history, triggered by tropical storms which have battered the region since the end of November, Kazinform refers to BBC News.

See www.bbc.co.uk for full version.