The east coast of Australia is currently being pummeled by what is reportedly the largest windstorm to hit since Europeans settled the continent. With peak winds of 186 mph and storm surge of some 23 feet, this cyclone, which at one point spanned 400 miles, has the potential to devastate a region already reeling from recent floods that killed more than 30 people, caused insured losses of at least $1.5 billion and “covered an area the size of France and Germany combined,” according to the UK paper The Telegraph.

The AP video below shows some of the damage the storm has caused. It is now down to category 3 storm and should continue to dissipate as it moves inland, but it will still be many hours until the full brunt of disaster will be known.

In this other video from the BBC, we hear one 83-year-old local say “I’ve never been in anything like this in my life.”

More encouraging is the evacuation warning given by Queensland Premier Anna Bligh.

“Do not bother to pack bags. Just grab each other and get to a place of safety. Remember that people are irreplaceable.”

Let’s keep hoping for the best.

(video via The Huffington Post)