Cyclone Debbie: Thousands flee homes as storm closes on Australia

More than 3,500 Australian residents have been moved out of homes as a cyclone carrying winds up to 150 mph moves towards the Queensland coast.

Cyclone Debbie is expected to intensify into a Category 4 system before it arrives early on Tuesday local time.

Some people have refused to leave despite warnings the destructive core 62 miles wide.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the storm would rival the devastating Cyclone Yasi in 2011.

“This window of opportunity to leave is drastically closing.

“I am just pleading to everyone, please, listen to authorities. I do, you must as well. This is about your safety, it is about the safety of your family and the safety of your children.’’

The cyclone is expected to make landfall sometime after 7am local time tomorrow (8pm UK time on Monday) anywhere in a 165 mile zone from Townsville to Proserpine.