SYDNEY – A damaging tropical cyclone swept through Australia’s Northern Territory Saturday night (Sunday, Manila time), bringing winds up to 110 kilometers per hour that tore up trees and traffic lights and cut power.
Tropical Cyclone Fina loomed off the coast of the Northern Territory for several days before rapidly intensifying to a category 3 storm.
It swept between busy city Darwin and the sparsely populated Tiwi Islands — an archipelago about 80 kilometers off the coast — where wind gusts reached 110 kilometers per hour.
The “very destructive core” of the cyclone has moved away from the Northern Territory, but heavy rain and winds will persist Sunday, Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Angus Hines said.
Northern Territory Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said it had been a “frightening night for everyone”.
“I’ve certainly been waiting in anticipation for my briefings this morning — which show that there’s been no injuries,” she told national broadcaster ABC.
“But absolutely widespread trees down, damage to property, power lines down.”
Footage showed sheets of rain pouring from roofs during the peak of the cyclone, while huge trees toppled into backyards and roads.
A section of roof at the Royal Darwin Hospital collapsed, with bricks and debris littering a corridor floor.
Federal member of parliament Luke Gosling said several areas had lost power, but people were well prepared.
“Everyone just looks out for each other up here in Darwin and Territorians generally, so those that have been through several cyclones and have lived here for a long time just help out and give advice to those who are all a bit new and worrisome,” he told the ABC.
