Dust storm leaves Australian town covered in film of orange
A 124-mile wide storm which swept through the outback has left an Australian town and its residents covered in a film of orange dust.
Roofs were partially ripped off, road signs damages and trees felled as gusts of 60mph swept through Charleville, in southwest Queensland.
Authorities said the dry, hot conditions had allowed strong winds to pick up dirt and spread it across the town, around 460 miles west of Brisbane.
"We do see a fair few dust events through the western parts of Queensland because it is such a dry and hot place, but it's definitely one of the more impressive events of the last few years," said Harry Clark, from Australia's Bureau of Meteorology.
Locals took to social media to share the apocalyptic scenes.
@jennyweather DUST storm in Charleville pic.twitter.com/zYyHbEiWuB
— Bec Brayley (@lakey04) February 20, 2018
Feeling dusty on a Tuesday afternoon? Spare a thought for #Charleville at the moment. Visibility is low so take care on the roads! pic.twitter.com/a1LiM9zmbd
— Queensland Police (@QldPolice) February 20, 2018