Kiwis prepare for cyclone Debbie

A New Zealand couple holidaying on Hamilton Island have been ordered to stay indoors as tropical Cyclone Debbie threatens the eastern coast of Australia.

Ryan Cayless and Emma Gibbons, from Wellington, were nearing the end of their holiday when they were told yesterday to ‘‘bunker down’’ at the Beach Club Resort, on Whitsunday Island.

‘‘We have been ordered to stay in our rooms and if the weather gets serious, like windows or doors smash, we have been told to bunker down in the bathroom as that’s fully enclosed with no windows,’’ said Cayless.

‘‘We have our evacuation packs ready that the crew made for everyone on the island, 2000 of them.’’

Cyclone Debbie remains on track to cross the Queensland coast near Bowen this morning, with a ‘‘very destructive core’’ bringing winds gusts potentially reaching 260kmh, the Bureau of Meteorology said. That would make it category 4 cyclone.

The storm was upgraded yesterday, shortly after a tourist died in a car crash near Proserpine, as a result of the wild weather building in north Queensland.

Police said a 31-year-old woman died at the scene after the two-car crash at Cannon Valley about 8am.

Whitsunday Mayor Andrew Willcox urged residents to take shelter as the storm surges towards the area.

Cayless and Gibbons began their holiday on Thursday, with Gibbons’ parents from Lower Hutt and family friends from Auckland.

‘‘We are supposed to leave on Wednesday, [but ] we can’t get off the island as the airport and marina have been closed since Sunday, so no-one can get off the island,’’ Cayless said.

‘‘We are a little bit concerned as the wind is starting to pick up again. We are just watching all the news updates . . .

‘‘We are ... taking it as it comes.’’

Meanwhile, authorities began evacuations in northern Queensland as Debbie continues to intensify.

Winds of up to 260kmh are expected, along with a potential storm surge. which could flood areas across the region.