Strong cyclone batters Australia with rain, wind

SYDNEY - Howling winds, heavy rain and huge seas pounded Australia's northeast on Tuesday, damaging homes, wrecking jetties and cutting power to thousands of people as Tropical Cyclone Debbie tore through Queensland state's far north.

Wind gusts stronger than 260 kilometers per hour were recorded at resorts along the world-famous Great Barrier Reef as the powerful cyclone made landfall as a Category 4 storm, one rung below the most dangerous.

It was later downgraded to Category 3. Forecasters said high winds could persist for as long as 10 hours, although the storm would then weaken rapidly and was expected to be downgraded to Category 1 before dawn on Wednesday.