17 Dec 2009

Tropical cyclone in Western Australia

3:54 pm on 17 December 2009

Tropical cyclone Laurence is expected to hit the Western Australian town of Derby in the next few hours.

The cyclone is within 100km of the town of 4,500 people.

Emergency services have warned residents to remain indoors, keep windows and doors closed and turn off gas supply valves.

The cyclone has been downgraded to Category 3 and is expected to continue to weaken as it passes over land.