Cyclone Clare rushes over W. Australia

Cyclone Clara moved inland from the Indian Ocean over northwestern Australia Tuesday with 130 mph winds and spawning flood warnings.

Phone and power lines were downed as the storm made landfall near Dampier in the state of Western Australia early Tuesday. Hours later, about 1,500 people who had evacuated low-lying areas began returning home.

"There were no injuries reported. We were very fortunate that people were extremely well-prepared," State Emergency Services spokeswoman Cheryl Greenough said.

Flood warnings were issued for several regions, with heavy rains and flash flooding forecast for at least two more days.

Chevron Australia shut its Barrow Island oil operations before Clare made landfall and a spokesman said the early assessment was that there had been no damage to infrastructure and production was likely to resume Tuesday, UPI reports.

V.Y.