Cyclone Debbie: Queensland braces for large scale disaster

Authorities have grounded flights, cancelled school and are evacuating low-lying areas as the worst tropical cyclone since Yasi approaches

Queensland is bracing for a large scale natural disaster ahead of the arrival of Cyclone Debbie, with authorities ordering evacuations, the closure of schools, ports and airports and thousands of military and emergency services personnel on alert.

The Bureau of Meteorology predicts the "very destructive core" of Debbie will hit the mainland near the northern town of Ayr as a category four cyclone early Tuesday.