Australia prepares for cyclone Yasi

A satellite image shows cyclone Yasi approaching the coast of northern Australia Photograph: US Naval Research Laboratory A satellite image shows Yasi nearing Queensland Photograph: Getty Images Satellite images of cyclone Yasi (top) approaching the coast of Australia and hurricane Katrina, which struck the US in August 2005. Yasi, which has been upgraded to a maximum-strength category five storm, is now moving with winds of up to 186 miles an hour and has a 400 mile-wide front. Yasi's current strength is similar to Katrina, which reached maximum category five in the US gulf before weakening a little as it made landfall near New Orleans. Photograph: Reuters Local residents of Townsville fill sandbags at the beach Photograph: Mechielsen/Newspix/Rex Features A shop owner tapes up glass doors and windows in preparation for the cylcone Photograph: Jonathan Wood/Getty Images A police officer asks tourists to vacate the Cairns esplanade Photograph: Jonathan Wood/Getty Images A man walks past windows taped up in preparation for cyclone Yasi Photograph: Jonathan Wood/Getty Images Jade Spiteri listens to weather updates on the radio at an emergency evacuation centre Photograph: Torsten Blackwood/AFP/Getty Images A man sleeps in an emergency cyclone shelter at a shopping mall Photograph: Tim Wimborne/Reuters Evacuees at the Wooree sport complex in Cairns Photograph: Colyn Huber/EPA A handpainted board protects the front window of a cafe Photograph: Tim Wimborne/Reuters A woman waits with her pet outside an emergency cyclone shelter after it was declared full in Cairns Photograph: Tim Wimborne/Reuters A family waits outside an emergency cyclone shelter in Cairns Photograph: Tim Wimborne/Reuters Medical personal evacuate high care patients from Cairns Base hospital Photograph: Simon J. Baker/Getty Images People pack a shopping mall used as an evacuation shelter in Cairns Photograph: Rick Rycroft/AP An elderly woman sits in the emergency evacuation centre at Earlville shopping centre Photograph: Paul Crock/AFP/Getty Images Bats fill the air over the deserted central business district as winds increase velocity in Cairns Photograph: Paul Crock/AFP/Getty Images