Three killed, homes washed away in Australia storm

By COLIN PACKHAM CNN

9 years ago

A man takes a picture of Bondi Beach’s sand as heavy winds blow it inland, April 21, 2015. (Jason Reed/Reuters)

Loaders move tons of sand pushed by strong winds and rain onto a coastal road in Sydney’s beachside suburb of Cronulla, April 21, 2015. (Jason Reed/Reuters)

A man runs past heavy seas as sand is blown by heavy winds inland at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, April 21, 2015. (Jason Reed/Reuters)

SYDNEY — A cyclonic storm battered Australia’s east coast on Tuesday killing three people, washing away houses, cutting power to more than 200,000 homes and stranding a cruise ship off the coast in mountainous seas.

Cyclone-strength winds of up to 85 mph uprooted trees, some crushing cars, snapped power poles and tore off roofs and building awnings.