Cyclone Fina hits Darwin and Tiwi Islands: Damage assessment and clean-up begins

Top End residents are assessing damage this morning and starting clean-up after a rough night of damaging winds and heavy rain as tropical cyclone Fina passed through.

Emergency authorities had advised Darwin households on Friday to stay indoors or in emergency shelters until the all-clear was given.

The category-three cyclone brought destructive winds and heavy rain to remote Tiwi Islands before hitting Darwin and surrounds on Saturday and Sunday.

Winds gusted up to 100km/h at Darwin Airport overnight, the Bureau of Meteorology reported.

Fina is currently tracking just northwest of Darwin, slowly moving away from the coast, where it is expected to strengthen into a category four system.

Northern Territory Police incident controller Kirsten Engels urged residents to stay at home Friday, but heavy rain and strong winds kept most indoors regardless. Emergency shelters were open in Darwin, Palmerston, and nearby rural areas, with people urged to bring bedding and food.

Part of the roof at Royal Darwin Hospital collapsed on Saturday, with NT Health Minister Steve Edgington confirming no staff or patients were hurt.

“A ceiling at the Royal Darwin Hospital has partially collapsed in an area on the first floor, with reports there is water in the building,” he said online.

Tiwi College at Pickataramoor suffered damage to its grounds and boarding accommodations, but early preparations prevented worse destruction. “Tiwi College is looking a bit sad, and sorry for itself after Fina came to visit us today, but we forgive her,” the school said online.

“Due to great preparations there is not much damage to buildings and all staff and families are safe and happy.”

Bureau of Meteorology NT manager Shenagh Gamble described Fina as a “small and intense” system and warned residents that conditions would worsen quickly.

“So as we approach this evening and the sun goes down, conditions are going to deteriorate significantly,” she said in a Friday video update. Gamble said conditions were easing considerably from Sunday morning.

Residents shared dramatic and intense footage on social media capturing Cyclone Fina’s wild winds and heavy rain as it battered down.

Power outages and fallen trees were reported Friday, with more expected once the all-clear is given on Sunday. As residents clean their yards, repair crews will restore power and clean-up teams will clear roads of debris.

Senior meteorologist Dean Narramore warned on Friday Darwin could experience winds up to 120km/h, “easily enough to cause property damage and bring down trees and powerlines”.

The Bureau said the “very destructive core” of the cyclone is now well off the northwest Top End coast.

“Fina is forecast to remain a severe tropical cyclone during Sunday as it moves southwest through the southern Timor Sea,” Sunday’s forecast read.

“It will start weakening during Monday as it nears the north of the Kimberley coast.”

Residents took to social media with wild footage of the cyclone.

with AAP