A tropical cyclone swept across Australia’s Northern Territory on Saturday, forcing thousands of residents to seek shelter. Winds reached around 140 kilometres per hour as Severe Tropical Cyclone Fina intensified rapidly.
The cyclone had lingered off the coast for several days before reaching category 3 early Saturday morning. Authorities warned that conditions would worsen quickly, especially in Darwin, the region’s busiest city.
“As the sun goes down, conditions will deteriorate significantly,” said Shenagh Gamble, hazard preparedness manager at the Bureau of Meteorology Northern Territory. “It will be a long night.”
Social media footage showed bare supermarket shelves as residents stocked up on supplies. Darwin Airport cancelled all flights on Saturday due to the storm. While the cyclone is expected to remain mostly over the ocean, its proximity to land may extend its duration, though cities may avoid the worst impact.
Emergency services have been preparing for the cyclone. At the Northern Territory Salvation Army shelter, Red Shield House 49, enough food has been stocked for a week. “A lot of our most vulnerable come through here. The team is really well-trained to look after them,” said Peter Sampson of the Salvation Army.
The Tiwi Islands, about 80 kilometres off Darwin, are facing the full force of the storm with winds up to 185 kilometres per hour. Northern Territory Police Superintendent Kirsten Engels urged people to move to shelters or stay home. “The situation is really serious. We have been planning for this, you don’t need to panic,” she said.
Darwin could see up to 200 millimetres of rain, increasing the risk of flash floods. Meanwhile, animals at Crocosaurus Cove, a local crocodile aquarium, remain unaffected. Charlotte Leyshon, operations manager, said the crocodiles are well-adapted to tropical storms and will “ride it out” safely.
Originally forecasted as a category 2 tropical cyclone, Fina quickly strengthened to category 3 and may reach category 4 as it moves offshore. Researchers warn that climate change is intensifying natural disasters, including cyclones, bushfires, and floods.
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