UPDATE - Tens of thousands lack power as Cyclone Kirrily batters Australia's Queensland

UPDATES WITH DETAILS ON CYCLONE'S IMPACT; CHANGES HEAD, DECK, LEDE

ANKARA (AA) - Tropical Cyclone Kirrily battered North Queensland, Australia with "very destructive" gusts of up to 170 kilometers (105 miles) per hour, leading to power outages and forcing authorities to shut schools and cancel flights Thursday, local media reported.

The cyclone, upgraded earlier in the day to a category three out of five, reverted to a category two as it approached the Queensland coast, local broadcaster ABC News reported.

Tens of thousands of homes are without power across northeastern coastal city of Townsville and surrounding areas afflicted by "life-threatening" flash flooding.

Over 34,000 homes and businesses were without power across Townsville, along with another 8,700 in parts of the Burdekin regions, including the towns of Ayr and Home Hill.

"Cyclone Kirrily is becoming more intense as it makes landfall near Townsville. We are working with the Queensland and local governments closely," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a post on X.

"Our ADF (Australian Defence Force) personnel have already been assisting with preparation — and remain on standby to assist local emergency services," he added.

- Cyclone expected to weaken

The cyclone is expected to move inland on Friday as a tropical low with heavy-to-intense rain in parts of the northern interior and western Queensland.

Authorities closed schools in Queensland while flights were also canceled as the residents have been told to stay home.

In a statement, the Queensland government said it is closing a number of North Queensland state schools as a precaution based on advice from Emergency Services.

“We all know that major flood events – whether riverine or flash flooding – in particular, can impact local school communities very quickly and without warning in some cases,” it said.

Australian Bureau of Meteorology also issued a warning of heavy rain and storms in Western Australia and South Australia.

“A Severe Weather Warning for heavy rainfall across some inland parts. Storms are also possible,” said the weather agency in a Facebook post, adding that flash flooding may impact road access.

*Writing by Aamir Latif and Islamuddin Sajid