The Australian state of Queensland, already hit by deadly flooding in recent weeks, is bracing for more devastation as a huge tropical cyclone rages towards its coast, CNN reports. Hundreds of patients have been evacuated from hospitals in the far north Queensland town of Cairns, and residents are being told to leave their homes as category four Cyclone Yasi closes in. The storm – expected to pack winds of more than 200 km/h (125mph) – is forecast to make landfall between Cairns and Innisfail after 7pm local time on Wednesday. Experts say it will bring torrential rain and cause a storm surge of up to two meters above the usual high tide line, flooding low-lying areas along the coast.
