Northwest Aus. residents survey damage from cyclone

Australia's most powerful tropical cyclone in eight years, lashed the nation's sparsely populated northwest coast, with winds gusting to 289 kilometers per hour Friday. But it was weakening fast and no injuries were immediately reported.

Damage was still being assessed in the path of Cyclone Ilsa, which made landfall in the early hours between the iron ore export town of Port Hedland and Wallal Downs Station, a 2,020-square-kilometer cattle ranch to the northeast.The storm will continue to weaken as its tracks southeast across land, the weather bureau said.