Darwin - A tropical cyclone battered Australia's north-west coast yesterday, destroying buildings in the small fishing town of Exmouth and bringing widespread flooding.
Cyclone Vance, one of the most powerful tropical storms to pound Australia, swept down Exmouth Gulf, producing winds of up to 290 k.p.h. (180 m.p.h.) as it passed Exmouth.
"We've had no injuries reported," said Mr Rick Guy, of Western Australia's State Emergency Services. "That's very lucky, given the size of it."
Cyclone Vance, a maximum category-five cyclone, was more powerful than Cyclone Tracy, which severely damaged the northern city of Darwin on Christmas Eve 1974, killing 60 people. "It looks like we could have the record - we'll have a better idea tomorrow," Mr Guy commented.