Tropical cyclone set to hit Queensland, Carnival cruise ship Luminosa heads back to Brisbane
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The cruise ship is forced to flee the path of a wild tropical cyclone and return home as the out-of-control storm heads towards Queensland.
A ‘dangerous’ tropical storm forming off the Queensland coast has forced a Pacific-bound cruise ship to turn back.
The Carnival Luminosa cruise ship, which was bound for New Caledonia, changed course on Wednesday morning and is now ready to return to Brisbane.
The storm system, which was located 800 km off the coast of Cairns in the Coal Sea, is expected to become a category two cyclone by Friday.
A wild tropical cyclone is forming off the Queensland coast and is expected to hit Norkfolk Island on Saturday.
The Carnival Luminosa cruise ship, which was headed for New Caledonia, but instead returned to Brisbane.
The weather office said the cyclone is likely to be named Gabrielle.
Initial concerns remain for the 2,200 residents on Norfolk Island, where the storm will hit on Saturday.