Northern Australia cleans up after Cyclone Fina
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Workers operating heavy machinery to stabilise Wamberal Beach after it was lashed by a low-pressure cyclone on July 2, 2025.
PHOTO: AFP
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Sydney - A damaging tropical cyclone swept through Australia’s Northern Territory on the night of Nov 22, bringing winds up to 110kmh 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 80km off the coast – where wind gusts reached 110kmh.
The “very destructive core” of the cyclone has moved away from the Northern Territory, but heavy rain and winds will persist on Nov 23, 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.
Fina is now moving offshore toward Western Australia, and forecasts say it may intensify to a category 4 storm.
But weather authorities said on Nov 23 it was unlikely the cyclone would make landfall and would gradually break apart in the coming days.
Researchers have repeatedly warned that climate change amplifies the risk of natural disasters such as bushfires, floods and cyclones. AFP
