Tropical Cyclone Fina has hit Australia

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Tropical Cyclone Fina narrowly missed Darwin on Saturday, sweeping through Van Diemen's Bay before hitting Tiwi Island and Cape Hotham. Authorities have warned people to take shelter. The cyclone will also bring heavy rainfall to the area, with flash flooding possible.

Many residents of Darwin, a city of 140,000, still remember the devastation of Cyclone Tracy in 1970, which destroyed much of the city and killed 66 people. To this day, it remains one of the worst natural disasters to hit Australia.

According to the government, around 19,000 residents were temporarily without electricity. Fina also caused property damage and flooded roads. Thanks to early preparations and warnings, the cyclone has so far caused no serious injuries. Strong winds have downed power lines and large trees, and it will take several days to assess the damage.

On Saturday, Darwin International Airport was closed due to strong winds, and several incidents occurred. Category 2 and 3 tropical cyclones can cause extensive damage to buildings, crops and trees. They are also accompanied by numerous power outages. In March this year, post-tropical cyclone Alfred hit neighboring Queensland, forcing the closure of many schools and leaving hundreds of thousands of residents without power.

Source: Reuters, Editorial Weathersunshine.com