Cyclone Ului causes havoc in Australia

A storm that has blasted across Australia's northeast coast has torn roofs from homes, smashed boats into rocks and cut power to tens of thousands of people.

Tropical Cyclone Ului crossed the coast at Airlie Beach as a category three storm early on Sunday with winds up to 124 miles per hour, strong enough to suck the air-conditioning units out of walls.

There have been no reports of deaths or injuries as the storm whipped across the popular tourist area that borders the Great Barrier Reef.

The cyclone has cut more than 27-thousand fixed phone lines, putting pressure on the mobile network.

Officials say repair crews are being hampered by power cuts and other infrastructure damage in the cyclone-affected area, with 45,000 homes still without power.

Resorts along the Great Barrier Reef were evacuated earlier in the week in anticipation of the storm.