Published :
Updated :
For all latest news, follow The Financial Express Google News channel.
Australian authorities have issued a warning about a powerful cyclone that is tracking towards the coast of Queensland.
Cyclone Owen is moving slowly over waters off the Northern Territory with winds of up to 200km/h (124mph), meteorologists said.
It is expected to intensify into a category four system before making landfall sometime early on Saturday local time (late on Friday GMT), according to a report on BBC.
Residents have been urged to stay safe.
"Owen will wreak havoc across our state and come down the east coast," Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk told the Seven network on Friday.
Emergency services have sent dozens of extra personnel to towns along the expected path of the cyclone.
"Tonight, bed down and stay safe, take your medication with you, a torch and make sure you have a really good idea of a place of safety," state disaster co-ordinator Bob Gee said.