Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Cyclone Yasi moves towards Australia

Posted at 23:21 on 31 January, 2011 UTC

Cyclone Yasi has been upgraded to a category three tropical cyclone as it moves towards the northeast coast of Australia.

Cyclone Yasi swept across Torba province in Vanuatu yesterday with winds of up to 50 knots or 95 kilometres per hour.

The Brisbane Metservice says it is moving at 30 kilometres an hour and is expected to hit northern Queensland late tomorrow night or early Thursday morn.

A senior forecaster, Gordon Banks says the cyclone is no longer a threat to Vanuatu or adjacent Pacific Islands.

He says Cyclone Yasi is situated 1600 kilometres east northeast of the northeast coast of Australia and winds at the centre are estimated to be at least 200 kilometres per hour and intensifying.