Sound of storm 'like a jumbo jet taking off'

One of the biggest storms ever to hit Australia, cyclone Yasi, has struck the coast of Queensland.

It is producing winds of more than 180 miles an hour and has already brought down power lines and trees.

Around 30,000 people in the city of Cairns have been told to leave their their homes.

The BBC spoke to Simon Smith, who is originally from Glasgow but now lives in Cairns. He described the sound of the storm as being "like a jumbo jet taking off".