Tropical Cyclone Fina unleashed destructive winds on Darwin, Australia, forcing airport closures and widespread disruption, while residents recalled the catastrophic Cyclone Tracy that decimated the city five decades ago.
The Category 3 storm made landfall in the northern Australian city on Saturday night, bringing destructive winds reaching speeds of up to 205 kilometers per hour (127 mph). Darwin International Airport remained closed for a second consecutive day on Sunday as authorities assessed damage and ensured safety.
While the Australian Bureau of Meteorology reported Fina had moved away from Darwin, the agency warned that strong gusts and heavy rain continued across affected areas. Officials also cautioned about a high risk of landslides, fallen trees, and broken power poles.
Fortunately, no serious injuries have been reported in the aftermath of the cyclone, according to ABC News. This stands in stark contrast to Cyclone Tracy, which devastated Darwin in 1974, destroying nearly the entire city and killing 66 people.
Emergency agency SecureNT issued warnings to the public, urging residents to avoid downed power lines and high-voltage cables scattered across the city. Power and Water Corporation, the local electricity provider, stated it was too early to estimate the number of customers affected by outages, with teams beginning damage assessments on Sunday morning.
For Darwin’s approximately 140,000 residents, Fina’s impact brought back vivid memories of the 1974 disaster, considered one of Australia’s worst natural calamities. In March, Tropical Cyclone Alfred also impacted Australia, causing school closures and widespread power outages in Queensland.